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Timelapse Duration Calculator
Choose how long the shoot lasts and how often to take a frame. See how many frames you get and how long the finished clip will play.
How the maths works
Divide the shoot length in seconds by the gap between shots. Round down to count complete gaps only. Then divide that frame count by the playback frame rate. This gives the length of the clip. The speed-up is the gap in seconds times the playback frame rate. A camera that also shoots at time zero can add one more frame.
Example: twenty minutes into twenty seconds
Twenty minutes is 1,200 seconds. Take one frame every two seconds and the tool counts 600 frames. At 30 frames per second, they play for twenty seconds. This is about sixty times faster than real time. These are planning numbers, not a test of your camera.
Match the gap to the scene
Watch what moves in the frame. A fast subject may need a short gap. A slow change in the sky may work with a longer gap. Too long a gap can make movement jump. Very short gaps add files and use more space. Try a small test before a long shoot.
Leave time to make each frame
The camera needs time to expose the shot, write the file and do any processing. Do not assume that a two-second gap works with a three-second exposure. This tool does not read your camera settings. Check how your camera defines the gap and how it handles a shot that takes too long.
Keep the shoot within real limits
For a fixed camera, check power, free storage, weather and a stable support. For a drone, use its supported mode and obey its flight limits and local rules. This tool is not a flight-time or battery-safety planner. A long value in a form does not mean a drone can safely fly for that long.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there one extra frame on my camera?
Some cameras take a shot at the start as well as at each gap. This tool counts complete gaps only. Check the manual and test your own camera.
Does the tool steady a moving hyperlapse?
No. It works out timing and frame counts. Camera movement, steady framing and matching exposure are separate tasks. Watch a sample before the full shoot.
Formulas and examples reviewed on 26 October 2026. Planning estimates, not measurements of your footage or equipment.