Several studies estimate that smoke breaks cost employers thousands of dollars per smoking employee each year in lost working time, on top of higher health costs. The same numbers make a strong case for the smoker’s own savings from quitting.
How to use the Smoker’s CTC Calculator – Cost to Company of Smoke Breaks
- Average smoke break
- Smoke breaks per day
- Hourly wage
- Working hours per day
- Working days per week
- Holidays per year
- Cigarettes per day
- Cigarettes per pack
- Price per pack
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the length and number of smoke breaks, the hourly wage, working days, and the cigarettes smoked per day and pack price.
Tips
- Use figures for the same period (a month, a quarter or a year) for every input so ratios compare like with like.
- Track the metric over time – the trend usually tells you more than a single value.
- Compare your result with industry benchmarks, which vary a lot between sectors.
- Treat the result as a starting point for a decision, then check the assumptions behind each input.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing monthly and yearly numbers in the same calculation.
- Using revenue where the formula needs profit (or the other way round).
- Forgetting hidden costs such as taxes, fees, overheads or your own time.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Average smoke break | In min |
| Smoke breaks per day | A number |
| Hourly wage | Amount in your currency |
| Working hours per day | A number |
| Working days per week | A number |
| Holidays per year | A number |
| Cigarettes per day | A number |
| Cigarettes per pack | A number |
| Price per pack | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Working days per year = [Working days per week]×52 – [Holidays per year]
- Hours smoking per year (paid) = [Smoke breaks per day]×[Average smoke break]÷60×[Working days per year]
- Cost per day = [Smoke breaks per day]×[Average smoke break]÷60×[Hourly wage]
- Cost per month = [Cost per day]×[Working days per year]÷12
- Cost to the employer per year = [Cost per day]×[Working days per year]
- Share of working time = [Smoke breaks per day]×[Average smoke break]÷60÷[Working hours per day]×100
- Cigarette spending per year = [Cigarettes per day]÷[Cigarettes per pack]×[Price per pack]×365.25
Example values
How the main result changes when Average smoke break changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Average smoke break (min) | Cost to the employer per year |
|---|---|
| 7.5 | 2,343.75 |
| 11.25 | 3,515.63 |
| 15 | 4,687.5 |
| 18.75 | 5,859.38 |
| 22.5 | 7,031.25 |
| 30 | 9,375 |
Formula
Paid time smoking per day = breaks × minutes per breakCost per year = hours smoking × hourly wage × working daysCigarette cost per year = packs per day × pack price × 365Worked example
Inputs — Average smoke break: 15 min; Smoke breaks per day: 3; Hourly wage: $25; Working hours per day: 8; Working days per week: 5; Holidays per year: 10; Cigarettes per day: 15; Cigarettes per pack: 20; Price per pack: $9.
Results — Working days per year = 250; Hours smoking per year (paid) = 188; Cost per day = $18.75; Cost per month = $390.63; Cost to the employer per year = $4,687.50; Share of working time = 9.38 %; Cigarette spending per year = $2,465.44.
Frequently asked questions
How much do smoke breaks cost employers?
Often $2,000–4,000 a year per smoking employee in lost time alone.
Are smoke breaks legal?
Most countries don't require them; they come out of regular break time or are allowed by policy.
How much does a smoker spend on cigarettes?
A pack a day at $9 is over $3,000 a year.
What formula does the Smoker's CTC Calculator – Cost to Company of Smoke Breaks use?
Paid time smoking per day = breaks × minutes per break.