Timelapse Calculator
Calculate the shooting interval between frames for a timelapse sequence. Use it before a shoot to set your intervalometer correctly and hit a target video length.
Last updated: September 2026
Formula below · 1 source (Wikipedia) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
A timelapse compresses a long real-world event into a short video clip. The shooting interval — the time between frames — determines how fast the final video plays relative to reality. The formula used here is: interval (s) = (eventDuration × 60) / (finalVideoLength × frameRate). The denominator is the total frame count your video needs, and the numerator converts event duration from minutes to seconds. Dividing the total event time by the number of frames needed gives the number of seconds between each shutter press. Storage requirements depend on how many frames are captured multiplied by the file size per photo.
How to use
You want to film a 2-hour sunset (120 minutes) and produce a 10-second clip at 24 fps. Total frames = 10 × 24 = 240. Interval = (120 × 60) / 240 = 7,200 / 240 = 30 s — one shot every 30 seconds, so plan for about 240 shutter actuations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the correct interval for a timelapse?
Divide the total event duration in seconds by the number of frames your final video requires. Frame count equals the video length in seconds multiplied by the frame rate. For a 30-second video at 24 fps you need 720 frames; if the event lasts 6 hours (21,600 s), the interval is 21,600 / 720 = 30 seconds per shot. This calculator does the conversion automatically, including the unit change from minutes to seconds.
What frame rate should I use for a timelapse video?
24 fps produces a cinematic feel and is the standard for film and streaming platforms. 25 fps suits PAL broadcast regions (Europe, Australia), while 30 fps is common for online video in North America. Higher frame rates like 60 fps give smoother motion but require more frames — and therefore shorter intervals or a longer shoot. For most landscape or cloud timelapse work, 24 or 25 fps is the best starting point.
How much storage space does a timelapse sequence require?
Multiply the total number of frames by the average file size per image. Shooting RAW files typically produces 20–40 MB per frame depending on camera resolution; JPEGs average 5–10 MB. A 500-frame sequence at 25 MB per frame needs 12.5 GB of card space. Multiply the frame count (video length × frame rate) by your file size to verify storage before heading out, avoiding mid-shoot card changes.