Two-pizza rule
A team size guideline proposed by Amazon's Jeff Bezos: a group too large to be fed by two pizzas is too big.
The Two-Pizza Rule is a guideline for team size and meeting size proposed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Its idea is that “a group too large to be fed by two pizzas (roughly 6-8 people or more) is too big.” It is widely known as part of Amazon’s internal culture and is referenced by many companies as a principle for forming teams and running meetings.
The basis for the rule
As the number of participants grows, the number of communication pairings increases in proportion to the square of the headcount (n×(n-1)/2). Because the overhead of sharing information drastically slows decision-making, keeping the group small is in itself a path to productivity.
| Number of participants | Number of one-to-one pairings |
|---|---|
| 3 people | 3 pairings |
| 5 people | 10 pairings |
| 7 people | 21 pairings |
| 10 people | 45 pairings |
| 15 people | 105 pairings |
Applying it to meetings
| Nature of the meeting | Recommended size | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Decision-making meeting | 4-6 people | Includes the decision maker. With too many people, agreement cannot be reached |
| Brainstorming | 4-7 people | At least 4 people to ensure diversity |
| Progress update | 5-8 people | Beyond that, share the minutes instead |
| Information sharing / briefing | No limit | The Two-Pizza Rule does not apply |
Applying it to team formation
The Two-Pizza Rule is applied not only to meetings but also to how an organization forms its teams. At Amazon, project teams are made up of 6-10 people, and teams that grow beyond that are split. This ensures that each team has enough autonomy and speed of decision-making.
Cases where it is hard to apply
Situations where the Two-Pizza Rule is hard to apply
- Company-wide briefings / town halls
- Reconciling interests across many departments (a representative from each department is required)
- Kickoffs for large-scale events
- Regulatory or legal matters where every stakeholder is required
The real use of the rule
The practical value of the Two-Pizza Rule lies less in the headcount limit itself than in its effect of “shifting the burden of justification to whoever wants to add people.” Each “let’s invite them just in case” addition looks reasonable on its own, but as they pile up, the meeting stops functioning. In organizations where the rule is shared, an expectation arises that the organizer explains “why this person is needed” when adding an 8th person or more, and this works as a discipline for inviting people. On the other hand, it collides head-on with a culture where “inviting everyone involved is good manners,” so when introducing it, it is realistic to also set up an alternative channel in the form of sharing the minutes.