Team Size Calculator

Calculate Team Size step by step: FTE = total effort ÷ (duration × project hours per person per week).

In short

Formula: FTE = total effort ÷ (duration × project hours per person per week).

Complete the required fields to see the result.

What this calculator does

Calculate Team Size step by step: FTE = total effort ÷ (duration × project hours per person per week). Worked example, questions and limitations included.

Use it to turn Total effort, Target duration, Project hours per person per week into a checked result you can compare, copy, or rerun with different assumptions.

The page shows the formula, a numeric worked example, and the assumptions that affect this project estimation calculation.

Inputs and what they mean

Total effort: — number value.
Target duration: — number value.
Project hours per person per week: — number value.

How to use it

Enter each value in the unit shown next to the box (use the unit converter first if your numbers are in other units).
Check the breakdown to see every intermediate step.
Read the limitations before relying on the result.

Formula

Simple effort-to-staffing arithmetic used in resource planning.

Assumes work can be split across people, which is only partly true.

Use realistic project hours (after meetings and support), not contracted hours.

FTE = total effort ÷ (duration × project hours per person per week).

Inputs used: Total effort, Target duration, Project hours per person per week.

Worked example

600 hours in 6 weeks

600 ÷ (6 × 30) = 3.33 FTE.
Round up to 4 people.

Reading the result

The headline figure is the main answer. Any breakdown underneath shows the parts that make it up, so you can check the working and see what changes when you adjust an input.

Limitations and assumptions

Assumes perfectly divisible work.
Ignores communication overhead.
Ignores critical-path sequencing.
Results are planning estimates built only from the figures you enter. They are not a guarantee of cost, schedule or delivery, and they do not replace your organisation's own project controls.
The result depends on the values you enter for this team size calculator; it does not supply missing rates, rules, prices, dates, or assumptions for you.

Common questions

Why round up?

You cannot staff a third of a person in most cases; rounding up keeps the deadline feasible. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real project estimation decision.

Will doubling the team halve the time?

No. Coordination overhead rises and some tasks are sequential, so the gain is smaller.

What about different roles?

Run the calculator per role with that role's effort. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real project estimation decision.

How do I use the Team Size Calculator?

Enter the required values for Total effort, Target duration, Project hours per person per week. 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 Team Size Calculator use?

FTE = total effort ÷ (duration × project hours per person per week). 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.

Can the 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.

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