# Software Team Size Calculator

> Find the average team size an effort and schedule imply.

Page: https://freecalculator.tech/tools/software-team-size-calculator
Last reviewed: 2026-09-16

## Formula

Average staff = Effort in person-months ÷ Schedule in calendar months

- Average staff = Effort in person-months ÷ Schedule in calendar months.
- Inputs used: Estimated effort, Planned schedule.
- Edge handling: Estimated effort is required.; Estimated effort cannot be negative.; Estimated effort must be no more than 1000000000.; Planned schedule is required.; Planned schedule cannot be negative..

## Inputs

- Estimated effort
- Planned schedule

## Worked example: 286 person-months over 22 months

The published staffing relation: average staff is effort divided by schedule.
1. Start with Estimated effort: 286, Planned schedule: 22.
2. Apply the method: Average staff = Effort in person-months ÷ Schedule in calendar months.
3. The published staffing relation: average staff is effort divided by schedule.

## Common questions

### Where does this formula come from?

COCOMO II Model Definition Manual — post-architecture effort PM = A × Size^E × ΠEM with A = 2.94 and E = B + 0.01 × ΣSF (B = 0.91), and schedule TDEV = C × PM^(D + 0.2 × (E − B)) × SCED%/100 with C = 3.67 and D = 0.28. See the source link on this page.

### What kind of calculation is this?

The published staffing relation between effort and schedule. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real professional & industry decision.

### What are its limits?

An average; real projects staff up and down over time. Says nothing about whether that team size is feasible.

### How do I use the Software Team Size Calculator?

Enter the required values for Estimated effort, Planned schedule. The calculator applies the formula on this page and shows the main result with any supporting breakdown so you can check the arithmetic.

### What formula does the Software Team Size Calculator use?

Average staff = Effort in person-months ÷ Schedule in calendar months The visible formula section above lists the calculation path and the edge cases the page handles, so the result can be checked without relying on the form alone. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real professional & industry decision.

### Can the Software Team Size Calculator be used for exact decisions?

Use it as a calculation aid, not as a substitute for checking the underlying rule, contract, policy, or professional advice that applies to your situation. When a result depends on local rules, personal details, prices, or dates, enter those values yourself and confirm them before acting.

## Limitations and assumptions

- Inputs outside the supported range are rejected rather than forced into a result.
- The result depends on the values you enter for this software team size calculator; it does not supply missing rates, rules, prices, dates, or assumptions for you.

## Sources

- University of Southern California, Center for Systems and Software Engineering — https://csse.usc.edu/tools/cocomo/

## Cite this page

- APA: Free Calculator. (2026, September 16). Software Team Size Calculator. https://freecalculator.tech/tools/software-team-size-calculator
- MLA: "Software Team Size Calculator." Free Calculator, 16 Sept. 2026, https://freecalculator.tech/tools/software-team-size-calculator.
- Link: Software Team Size Calculator — Free Calculator, https://freecalculator.tech/tools/software-team-size-calculator