Timecode Calculator
Convert frames to SMPTE timecode and back at any common frame rate, including 29.97 drop-frame, add or subtract timecodes, and see the real running time in seconds.
Result…
How it's calculated
Frames (non-drop) = (3600h + 60m + s) × base + f Frames (29.97 drop-frame) = 30 × (3600h + 60m + s) + f − 2 × (M − ⌊M ÷ 10⌋), M = 60h + m Real seconds = frames ÷ fps, fps = 24000/1001, 30000/1001 or 60000/1001 for 23.976, 29.97 and 59.94
Works with SMPTE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 drop-frame and non-drop, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 frames per second. Drop-frame skips frame numbers 00 and 01 at the start of every minute except minutes divisible by ten, so an hour of 29.97 drop-frame timecode is 107,892 frames. Arithmetic converts both timecodes to frame counts, adds or subtracts, and converts back. 59.94 is offered as non-drop only.
Your numbers, step by step
About the Timecode calculator
This timecode calculator converts between frame counts and SMPTE timecode (hours, minutes, seconds and frames, written HH:MM:SS:FF) at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 drop-frame and non-drop, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 frames per second. It also adds or subtracts two timecodes and shows how long the result really lasts on the clock, which matters at the 1000/1001 rates used in broadcast video. Editors, assistant editors, colourists and caption writers use it to check edit decision lists, work out programme lengths and line up subtitles. Drop-frame timecode follows the rule described in the SMPTE timecode article: frame numbers 00 and 01 are skipped at the start of every minute except each tenth minute. The working shows the frame count, the skipped labels and the real seconds, so a result can be checked by hand.
How to use it
- Choose the “Frame rate (fps)” of your project, for example “29.97 drop-frame” for much broadcast work or “25” for PAL regions.
- Under “Find”, pick “Timecode to frames”, “Frames to timecode” or “Add or subtract”.
- Type the “Timecode” as HH:MM:SS:FF (a semicolon before the frames is fine for drop-frame), or the “Frame count” counted from frame 0.
- For arithmetic, choose “Add” or “Subtract” under “Operation” and type the “Second timecode”.
Worked example
At 29.97 drop-frame, add 00:00:10;00 to 00:59:59;29. Both are converted to frame counts, added and converted back: the sum is 01:00:09;29, which is frame 108,191. At 30000/1001 frames per second that lasts 108,191 ÷ 29.97002997 = 3,609.973 s, about 1 h 00 min 09.973 s on the clock.
Updated
Questions people ask
How do I convert timecode to frames?
For non-drop timecode, multiply the total seconds by the timecode base (24, 25, 30 and so on) and add the frames. At 25 fps, 00:00:01:00 is 25 frames and 01:00:00:00 is 90,000 frames.
What is drop-frame timecode?
It is a way of numbering frames at 29.97 fps so the timecode keeps pace with the clock. No pictures are dropped: the labels ;00 and ;01 are skipped at the start of each minute except minutes 00, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50, so one hour of drop-frame timecode is 107,892 frames.
Why is my 29.97 non-drop timecode longer than the clock?
Non-drop timecode counts 30 labels per timecode second, but the video plays 30000/1001 frames per second. So 01:00:00:00 non-drop takes 3,603.6 seconds of real time, 3.6 seconds more than an hour.
Why does the calculator say a timecode does not exist?
In drop-frame timecode, labels such as 00:01:00;00 and 00:01:00;01 are never used, so the frame after 00:00:59;29 is 00:01:00;02. A common mistake is typing a drop-frame timecode with the frame rate set to non-drop, or the other way round.
Is 23.976 timecode the same as 24 fps timecode?
The labels are the same, 24 per timecode second, but 23.976 video plays 24000/1001 frames per second. An hour of 23.976 timecode lasts 3,603.6 seconds on the clock. For the time each frame is on screen, see the frame time calculator.