Timelapse Calculator — Interval, Total Shots & Clip Length
Plan your timelapse shoot — calculate total shots, final clip length, and storage needed. Or reverse-calculate: enter your target clip length and interval to find how long to shoot.
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Results
Clip Length
30.0s
at 24 fps
Total Shots
720
Estimated Storage
14.1 GB
~20MB per RAW shot estimate
Timelapse Interval Quick Reference
| Subject | Interval | For 10s at 24fps | Shoot Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clouds (fast) | 2–3s | 240 shots | 8–12 min |
| Sunset / Sunrise | 3–5s | 240 shots | 12–20 min |
| City traffic | 5–10s | 240 shots | 20–40 min |
| Stars / Milky Way | 15–25s | 240 shots | 1–2h |
| Flowers blooming | 5–15 min | 240 shots | 1–3 days |
| Construction | 15–30 min | 240 shots | 1–7 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate timelapse interval?
To calculate interval: divide total shooting time (in seconds) by the number of shots you want. For example, to shoot 1 hour (3600s) and get 300 shots: 3600 ÷ 300 = 12 second interval. Use the 'Target Clip → Shoot Time' mode above to work backwards from a desired clip length.
How many photos do I need for a timelapse?
At 24 fps, a 10-second clip needs 240 photos. At 30 fps, you need 300 photos. Use the calculator above: enter your shooting duration and interval to see total shots. Or enter your target clip length and interval to find how many hours you need to shoot.
What interval should I use for timelapse?
Clouds and weather: 3–10 seconds. Sunsets and sunrises: 3–5 seconds. Flowers blooming: 5–30 minutes. Stars and night sky: 15–30 seconds. Construction or city traffic: 5–30 seconds. The faster the action, the shorter the interval you need.
How long should I shoot for a good timelapse?
A standard 10-second clip at 24 fps needs 240 shots. At a 5-second interval, that's 20 minutes of shooting. At a 30-second interval (for slow-moving clouds), you'd need 2 hours. Use the calculator to find the exact shooting time for your target clip length and interval combination.
What is an intervalometer?
An intervalometer is a device or camera feature that triggers the shutter automatically at set time intervals. Most modern cameras have a built-in intervalometer. Third-party intervalometers (like the Vello FreeWave) offer more control. Set the interval from this calculator as your intervalometer setting.
How much storage do I need for a timelapse?
Storage depends on your camera and file format. RAW files are 20–50MB each; JPEGs are 5–15MB. For 500 RAW shots at 25MB each: 500 × 25 = 12.5GB. The calculator estimates storage at ~20MB per shot as a conservative baseline — check your camera's actual file sizes for precision.