Timecode Calculator Online tool

Timecode is the backbone of professional video production. It provides a precise, frame-accurate address for every moment in a piece of footage, making it possible for editors, directors, sound designers, and post-production teams to communicate about specific points in a timeline with complete accuracy. Whether you’re syncing audio to picture, calculating a clip’s duration, applying an offset to a sequence, or converting between different frame rates, getting the timecode maths right is non-negotiable.

Our Timecode Calculator is a professional-grade tool that handles the full range of timecode calculations in one place. Add or subtract timecodes, calculate durations, convert between timecode formats and frame counts, apply positive or negative offsets, and convert timecodes across different frame rates — all with frame-accurate results and a persistent calculation history that saves your recent work between sessions.

What Is Timecode and Why Does It Matter?

Timecode is a numerical address assigned to each frame of video, expressed in the format HH:MM:SS:FF — hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. It was developed to allow frame-accurate identification and synchronisation across different pieces of equipment, media, and timelines in broadcast, film, and post-production environments.

Without timecode, describing a specific moment in a piece of footage requires vague language — “around the two-minute mark” — that introduces errors and inefficiencies. With timecode, every single frame has a unique, unambiguous address that any editor, colorist, or sound engineer working on the same project can reference instantly and precisely.

Timecode also underpins the EDL (Edit Decision List) format used to transfer edit data between systems, the spotting process in music and sound design, subtitle and caption timing, and broadcast scheduling — making accurate timecode calculation an essential skill for anyone working in professional video.

Who Should Use This Calculator

Video Editors

Calculate clip durations, add and subtract timecodes when building sequences, and apply offsets to align material from different sources — all without doing the frame maths manually.

Post-Production Professionals

Convert timecodes between frames and seconds for VFX, colour grading, or audio handoff, and handle framerate conversions when working across projects shot at different rates.

Broadcast Engineers and Producers

Calculate running times, schedule segments, and ensure accurate timecode continuity across complex multi-camera or multi-source productions.

Subtitle and Caption Creators

Work out precise in and out timecodes for subtitle blocks and calculate durations to ensure text appears and disappears at the correct frame-accurate moment.

Film Students and Emerging Editors

Learn to work with timecode confidently without the risk of manual calculation errors, and build a practical understanding of how frame-accurate timing works across different frame rates.

How to Use the Timecode Calculator

The calculator is organised into several functional sections. Here’s how to use each one.

Step 1: Set Your Frame Rate

Select your working frame rate using the frame rate buttons — 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, or 60 fps. You can also enter a custom frame rate if your project requires it. Click Set to apply the selected rate. The current frame rate is displayed at all times so you always know what basis your calculations are using.

Step 2: Select the Timecode Format

Choose between HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds, frames) for frame-based work, or HH:MM:SS.MS (hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds) for millisecond-based work. Select whichever format matches your project or software.

Step 3: Perform Basic Calculations

Enter two timecodes into the Timecode 1 and Timecode 2 fields. Select your operation — Add to combine two timecodes, Subtract to find the difference between them, or Duration to calculate the time span between two points. Click Calculate to see your result instantly.

Step 4: Use the Conversion Tools

Select your conversion type — Timecode to Frames, Frames to Timecode, Timecode to Seconds, or Seconds to Timecode. Enter your source value and click Convert to get the equivalent in your target format.

Step 5: Apply a Timecode Offset

Enter a source timecode and an offset value, choose whether to add or subtract the offset, and click Apply Offset to generate the adjusted timecode. This is useful for re-timing sequences or aligning material that starts at a non-zero timecode.

Step 6: Convert Between Frame Rates

Enter a timecode, select the source frame rate and target frame rate, and click Convert FPS to see the equivalent timecode at the new rate. This is essential when conforming material between projects shot at different frame rates or delivering to broadcast specifications that require a specific rate.

Step 7: Review Your Calculation History

All calculations are saved automatically in the history panel. You can copy results directly from the history, review past calculations at a glance, or clear the history when starting a new session. History is saved locally in your browser between sessions, persisting up to 50 entries.

Supported Timecode Formats

HH:MM:SS:FF

The standard frame-based timecode format used in broadcast and film post-production. Each segment represents hours, minutes, seconds, and frames respectively. For example, 01:23:45:12 refers to 1 hour, 23 minutes, 45 seconds, and 12 frames into the timeline.

HH:MM:SS.MS

A millisecond-based format used in some editing applications, web video, and subtitle systems. The final segment represents milliseconds rather than frames. For example, 01:23:45.500 refers to 1 hour, 23 minutes, 45 seconds, and 500 milliseconds.

Understanding Frame Rates

24 fps

The standard frame rate for theatrical film and cinema, widely used in narrative film production and adopted in digital cinema workflows. It produces the characteristic motion quality associated with film.

25 fps

The standard frame rate for PAL broadcast television, used across much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Also used in many international co-productions.

29.97 fps

The broadcast standard for NTSC television used in North America and Japan. This fractional frame rate was introduced for colour TV compatibility and remains the standard for US broadcast delivery.

30 fps

A clean integer alternative to 29.97, used in web video, some streaming platforms, and time-lapse work. Not typically used for broadcast delivery in NTSC regions.

50 fps

The high-frame-rate equivalent of 25 fps, used for high-definition PAL broadcast, sports, and slow-motion work in PAL markets.

60 fps

The high-frame-rate equivalent of 29.97 fps, used for HD NTSC broadcast, gaming content, sports, and slow-motion production in NTSC markets.

Why This Calculator Stands Out

Most online timecode calculators handle basic addition and subtraction but stop there. This tool covers the complete range of professional timecode tasks — basic arithmetic, format conversion, offset application, framerate conversion, and persistent history — in a single, unified interface. It supports both frame-based and millisecond-based formats, handles the tricky 29.97 fps drop-frame behaviour, and works across all standard broadcast and cinema frame rates as well as custom rates. It’s completely free, works in any browser on any device, and requires no installation or registration — making it one of the most capable and accessible timecode tools available online.