Empty chair cost calculator
A chair with no dentist in it — what it costs per year.
Empty chair cost is the production a fully equipped chair would generate if a clinician were in it. Multiply empty chair hours per week by your production per chair hour and by working weeks to get lost production, then apply the margin on that production to see the lost profit. In most general practices a chair produces $350–$600 an hour when used, so even one empty day a week adds up to a substantial annual figure. The number tells you whether hiring an associate or hygienist for that time is worth it.
How this is calculated
- Lost production = empty hours × hourly production × weeks.
- Lost margin = production × margin.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire an associate or a hygienist for empty chair time?
It depends on demand. Hygiene is lower cost, fills quickly from your existing recall base and feeds restorative diagnosis to the dentists; an associate fills higher-value production but needs new patients to stay busy. Run both scenarios with the Hygienist Profitability and Associate Profit calculators before deciding.
What margin should I use on the extra production?
Higher than your overall practice margin, because rent, equipment and reception are already paid for. Deduct only the costs the extra production creates, typically the clinician's pay, an assistant, lab and supplies. 40–50% is common when a chair is being filled rather than added.
How do I count empty chair hours?
Compare hours the chair is available with hours a clinician is rostered to it, from your roster rather than the appointment book. This is different from utilisation, which measures how much of a rostered clinician's time is booked. Empty chair hours have no clinician at all.
Is it worth filling only a day or two a week?
Often yes. Part-time associates and hygienists are common in most markets, and even eight hours a week at general-practice production rates covers a meaningful amount of fixed cost. The constraint is usually patient demand to fill the time, not the economics.
Related calculators
All dentist calculators- Dental chair utilisationHow much of your available chair time is actually producing?Open calculator →
- Hygienist profitabilityDoes your hygiene department make money on its own?Open calculator →
- Associate dentist profitWhat an associate contributes to the practice after their pay and costs.Open calculator →
Benchmarks are indicative for general practice in most markets. Last updated 18 Sept 2026. See our methodology.