Cost per Hire Formula: Excel, DAX, Calculator & Example

Simple formula

Total Recruiting Cost / Number of Hires

The formula uses these inputs:

Total Recruiting Cost: enter your value in the calculator or spreadsheet.
Number of Hires: enter your value in the calculator or spreadsheet.

Excel formula

Use this Excel formula as a starting point. Replace the sample cell references with the cells in your worksheet.

=IFERROR(B2/C2,0)

Google Sheets formula

In most cases, the Google Sheets version uses the same structure as Excel.

=IFERROR(B2/C2,0)

Power BI DAX measure

Use this DAX pattern as a starting point and rename measures or columns to match your Power BI model.

Cost per Hire =
DIVIDE(
    [Total Recruiting Cost],
    [Number of Hires]
)

SQL example

This generic SQL pattern can be adapted to your warehouse table names and column names.

SELECT
    /* replace with your formula */ AS cost_per_hire
FROM kpi_data;

Cost per Hire calculator

Total Recruiting Cost Number of Hires

Result—

How to interpret Cost per Hire

Use this KPI with trend data, targets, and related metrics. A single value is less useful than a consistent definition tracked over time.

Important: KPI definitions can vary by company, accounting policy, analytics platform, or reporting standard. Keep the definition consistent when comparing periods.

Common mistakes

Mixing different time periods in the numerator and denominator.
Using totals that do not match the KPI definition used by your company.
Comparing results across teams or industries without context.

Related KPI formulas

Frequently asked questions

What is the Cost per Hire formula?

The common Cost per Hire formula is: Total Recruiting Cost / Number of Hires.

How do you calculate Cost per Hire in Excel?

Use this Excel formula pattern: =IFERROR(B2/C2,0). Replace the cell references with your own data.

Can this KPI be calculated in Power BI?

Yes. Use the DAX measure on this page as a starting point and adjust table and column names to match your model.

Cost per Hire Formula

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