What is the maximum time that backlog refinement should take from the Development Team's capacity?

Backlog refinement is a crucial activity for the Scrum Team, allowing them to clarify items in the Product Backlog, break them down into finer details, and estimate the effort required to complete them. The general guideline suggests that backlog refinement should take no more than 10% of the Development Team's total capacity. This is designed to ensure that the team spends an appropriate amount of time preparing for future work without detracting excessively from their capacity to deliver on current Sprint commitments.

By allocating 10% of their capacity to backlog refinement, the Development Team can ensure that they have enough time to understand the work ahead, clarify requirements with the Product Owner, and prepare for upcoming Sprints. This proportion supports a healthy balance between ongoing delivery and effective future planning, enabling the team to remain agile and adaptable in meeting stakeholder needs.

Other options suggest higher percentages; these would reduce the amount of time available for actual development work in the current Sprint. This could lead to rushed or less effective refinement sessions or, worse, impact the team’s ability to deliver value within the Sprint timebox. Hence, the 10% guideline is considered the most suitable approach for facilitating balanced and effective Scrum practices.