PlaylistTime / Watch time
Video speed calculator
How long does a video take at 1.25x, 1.5x or 2x? Type a length or paste a YouTube link and see the watch time at every playback speed.
| Speed | Length | Time saved |
|---|
This playback speed calculator turns any video length into the time it really takes at the speed you watch. Type a length such as 45m or 1:05:30, or paste a YouTube link and the length is filled in for you. You get the watch time at your speed, the time you save, and a table of every common speed from 0.75x to 3x.
How long is a video at 1.5x speed?
Here is how long common video lengths take at each playback speed. A 1 hour video takes 40 minutes at 1.5x and 30 minutes at 2x; a 30 minute video takes 20 minutes at 1.5x.
| Video length | 1.25x | 1.5x | 1.75x | 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 8m | 6m 40s | 5m 43s | 5m |
| 20 minutes | 16m | 13m 20s | 11m 26s | 10m |
| 30 minutes | 24m | 20m | 17m 09s | 15m |
| 45 minutes | 36m | 30m | 25m 43s | 22m 30s |
| 1 hour | 48m | 40m | 34m 17s | 30m |
| 1.5 hours | 1h 12m | 1h 00m | 51m 26s | 45m |
| 2 hours | 1h 36m | 1h 20m | 1h 08m 34s | 1h 00m |
| 3 hours | 2h 24m | 2h 00m | 1h 42m 51s | 1h 30m |
2x speed calculator
At 2x a video takes exactly half its length: a 1 hour video takes 30 minutes, a 45 minute video 22 minutes 30 seconds and a 3 hour video 1 hour 30 minutes. Pick 2x in the speed box above to use this as a 2x speed calculator, or 1.5x for a 1.5x speed calculator. It works for YouTube videos, lectures, courses and any other video.
What does 1.5x speed mean?
1.5x means the video plays one and a half times faster than normal, so every minute of video takes 40 seconds to watch. 2x plays twice as fast and halves the time; 1.25x plays a quarter faster and saves a fifth of the time. Speech stays easy to follow up to about 1.5x for most people, which is why it is the most popular speed for lectures, podcasts and tutorials.
The playback speed formula
Watch time = length ÷ speed. The time you save is the length minus the watch time. So 1.25x saves 20% of the time, 1.5x saves a third, 1.75x saves about 43% and 2x saves half. For a 50 minute lecture at 1.5x: 50 ÷ 1.5 = 33 minutes 20 seconds.
How to change the playback speed on YouTube
- On a computer: click the settings gear on the video, choose Playback speed and pick a speed, or choose Custom to set it in small steps.
- On a phone: tap the video, tap the settings icon, then Playback speed.
- Keyboard: on youtube.com, Shift + . speeds up and Shift + , slows down.
Timing a whole series? The playlist length calculator gives the total of a YouTube playlist at any speed, and the audiobook speed calculator does the same for audiobooks.
Questions
How long is a 1 hour video at 1.5x speed?
40 minutes. At 1.25x it takes 48 minutes, at 1.75x about 34 minutes and at 2x 30 minutes.
How long is a 30 minute video at 1.5x speed?
20 minutes. At 2x it takes 15 minutes and at 1.25x 24 minutes.
How long is a 2 hour video at 1.5x speed?
1 hour 20 minutes. At 2x it takes 1 hour and at 1.25x 1 hour 36 minutes.
How long is a 45 minute video at 2x speed?
22 minutes 30 seconds. At 1.5x it takes 30 minutes and at 1.25x 36 minutes.
How do I calculate video length at a different speed?
Divide the length by the speed. A 45-minute video takes 30 minutes at 1.5x and 22 minutes 30 seconds at 2x. The video speed calculator above does this for every common speed at once.
What does 1.5x speed mean?
The video plays one and a half times faster than normal, so each minute of video takes 40 seconds and you save a third of the time.
How much time does 2x speed save?
Exactly half. At 1.5x you save a third of the time, and at 1.25x you save a fifth.
Can I paste a YouTube link?
Yes. Paste any video link and the length is filled in for you, with the video's title and thumbnail so you know it is the right one.
What formats can I type?
Clock style like 1:05:30 or 45:00, or words like 1h 5m, 90m or 2h.