Template · Meetings
Free meeting agenda template with timed topics
Run shorter meetings with a clear agenda: one goal, a table of topics with an owner, minutes and the outcome you need, and a total that shows if it fits in the time you have.
Agenda · Oct 5
Goal of the meeting:
When and where: Monday, October 5, 2026
Who:
Topics
Agenda
| Topic | Owner | Minutes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome and goal | 2 | Inform | |
| 15 | Discuss | ||
| 10 | Decide | ||
| Next steps and owners | 3 | Inform | |
| Sum 30 |
Read before the meeting
Decisions we need
Notes
Action items
Free. Barside asks before it adds the template, then makes a new note from it. Needs Barside 1.50 or newer.
Nothing opened? Barside may not be installed yet. Download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
A meeting without an agenda drifts. This template asks for a goal and a time for each topic, so you see before the meeting whether it can work.
Who it is for
It is for anyone who sends meeting invites: team leads, project managers, teachers and club organizers. If your meetings often run long, this template is the fastest fix, and the meeting notes template takes over once the meeting starts.
What is in the meeting agenda template
- Goal of the meeting: the one thing the meeting must achieve.
- Agenda: a table with Topic, Owner, Minutes and Outcome (decide, discuss or inform). The total at the bottom adds up the minutes.
- Read before the meeting and Decisions we need: so people come ready.
- Notes and Action items: filled in during the meeting.
An example
Ben plans a 30-minute planning meeting. He writes the goal, "Agree on next month's priorities", and adds four topics: a two-minute welcome, a 15-minute discussion of options, a 10-minute decision and three minutes of next steps. The total shows exactly 30. He links the options document under Read before the meeting and sends the note the day before.
How to use the meeting agenda template
- Choose Open in Barside above. Barside opens and asks before it adds anything.
- Pick the workspace for the note, and leave Keep it in my templates ticked to use the template again.
- Choose Create note. A new note called "Agenda · Oct 5" opens, ready to fill in.
- Next time, start one from New note from a template, or let Barside make it on a schedule as a repeating note.
No Barside yet? It is free for Windows, Linux and Mac: download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
How to write an agenda that saves time
- Put decisions first, while people are fresh.
- If the minutes add up to more than the meeting, cut a topic now, not at the end.
- Mark topics that are only information as Inform, and consider sending them in writing instead.
- Share the agenda a day before.
Make it yours
- Add a Done checkbox column to tick topics off live.
- Turn the finished agenda into the meeting notes: it already has the sections.
- See what a long agenda costs with the meeting cost calculator.
FAQ
Questions and answers
How long should each agenda topic be?
Five to fifteen minutes for most topics. A topic that needs more is often a meeting of its own, with a smaller group.
Is the meeting agenda template free?
Yes. The template and Barside are both free. Barside Plus is optional and adds cloud backup and sync between computers; templates do not need it.
Do I need an account to use it?
No. Barside runs on your computer without an account, and the notes you make from the template stay in your library on your computer.
Can I use it on a Mac?
Yes: Barside for Mac is out. Barside also runs on Windows and Linux. The template page works in any browser, so you can preview it anywhere.