How it works
How to use this productivity calculator
- Enter output for the period (units, tickets, or another countable result).
- Enter hours worked.
- Optionally enter an hourly wage to see labor cost and cost per unit.
Formula
The calculation formula
Productivity = Output ÷ HoursDivide the units produced (or other output) by hours worked.
If an hourly wage is entered, multiply hours by the wage for labor cost.
Divide labor cost by output for labor cost per unit.
Worked examples
Example calculations
240 ÷ 8 = 30 units per hour. Leave wage blank if you only need the rate.
8 × $20 = $160 labor. $160 ÷ 240 = $0.67 per unit. Hours must be greater than zero.
When to use it
Common use cases
- Compare a shift’s units per hour
- Turn a wage into cost per unit
- Check whether more hours or more output changed the rate
Limits
Assumptions and limits
- This is a simple labor-productivity ratio: output divided by hours. Multifactor productivity is out of scope.
- Wage is optional. Blank wage omits labor-cost lines.
- Quality, idle time, and overhead are not subtracted.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this official labor productivity?
It uses the same ratio shape as output per hour. National statistics adjust output and hours. This page uses only the numbers you enter.
What if output is zero?
Output per hour can be zero. Labor cost per unit is omitted because it would divide by zero.
Sources
Sources and review
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — productivity
Labor productivity as output per hour
Accessed August 25, 2026