Video Frame Time Calculator

A video frame time calculator converts between SMPTE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) and a total frame number at any frame rate, in either direction. It handles drop-frame timecode for NTSC video, supports custom frame rates for non-standard projects, and can show the underlying math step by step.

• Conversion mode sets the direction: frame-to-timecode turns a raw frame count into HH:MM:SS:FF format, and timecode-to-frame turns a timecode into a total frame count.
• Frame rate covers common values: 23.976 fps for streaming content, 24 fps for cinema, 25 fps for PAL broadcast, 29.97 fps for NTSC broadcast, and 60 fps for sports or gaming, plus a custom field for rates such as 15, 48, or 120 fps.
• A frame number accepts whole numbers, decimals, simple fractions such as 3/4, and mixed numbers such as 5 1/2; timecode entry uses separate Hours, Minutes, Seconds, and Frames fields.
• Drop-frame timecode applies only to 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps content and skips selected frame numbers at minute boundaries to keep timecode synchronized with real clock time; the calculator enforces that drop frame is only ever applied to those two compatible rates.
• Settings holds a step-by-step derivation that substitutes the entered values into the full formula for review.

At 24 fps, frame 86,400 falls at exactly one hour of footage: 86,400 divided by 24 is 3,600 seconds, which is 60 minutes, so the timecode reads 01:00:00:00.

Use frame-to-timecode and timecode-to-frame conversions across professional and amateur video workflows. Accurate frame counting supports precise editing, synchronization, and compliance with broadcast standards across different frame rate systems.

• Film editing. The exact timecode for a specific frame matters when assembling cuts in a 24 fps cinema project: frame 86,400 corresponds to exactly one hour of footage (86,400 / 24 fps = 3,600 seconds).
• Broadcast compliance. A 30-second commercial spot at 29.97 fps drop frame should hit exactly 00:00:30;00, with the correct frame count required for network delivery specifications.
• Animation timing. A 5-second animation needs 60 frames at 12 fps, 120 frames at 24 fps, or 150 frames at 30 fps, figures that set drawing workload and timing sheets accurately.
• Subtitle authoring. Frame-based subtitle formats such as MicroDVD use frame positions instead of timecodes, so subtitle cue points convert to frame numbers before export.
• Sports analysis. Frame numbers in 60 fps or 120 fps slow-motion footage convert to real-time timestamps precise enough to measure athlete performance frame by frame.
• Video compression. Keyframe intervals for encoder configuration come from converting a desired keyframe spacing in seconds into frame numbers at the target frame rate.
• Music video production. Visual cuts synchronized to musical beats rely on converting BPM-derived time positions into exact frame numbers at the project frame rate.
• Surveillance review. Frame-stamped security footage converts to wall-clock time for incident reporting, including non-standard rates such as 15 fps common in CCTV systems.
• Game development. Animation frame counts translated between target frame rates, such as 30 fps console and 60 fps PC, keep animation timing consistent across platforms.