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All calculatorsMethodology

Timecode Calculator

Add or subtract SMPTE timecodes, or convert between timecode and frame counts at 23.976 to 60 fps, including 29.97 and 59.94 drop-frame, with real-time duration.

Interactive calculator · Method TIMECODE-MATH-1.0 · Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

Calculate your scenario

Frames = (3600 × HH + 60 × MM + SS) × nominal fps + FF, minus, for drop-frame, D × (total minutes − ⌊total minutes ÷ 10⌋), where nominal fps is 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 and D = 2 at 29.97 DF or 4 at 59.94 DF.

Your inputs

Try an example

Default worked example. Edit the inputs to calculate your scenario.

Default worked example

Result timecode 01:10:30;15
Total frames 126,789
Real-time duration 4,230.526 s (1:10:30.526)
Timecode A in frames 107,892
Frame rate 30000/1001 = 29.97003 fps, drop-frame (2 labels skipped per minute except every 10th)

107,892 + 18,897 = 126,789 frames = 01:10:30;15; real time = 126,789 ÷ 29.97003 fps = 4,230.526 s.

How to use the calculator

Choose the project frame rate and an operation, then enter timecode A (and B for add or subtract) or a frame count.

What the result means

At 29.97 drop-frame, 01:00:00;00 is 107,892 frames and 00:10:30;15 is 18,897 frames; together 126,789 frames, labelled 01:10:30;15 and lasting about 4,230.5 real seconds.

Formula and units

Frames = (3600 × HH + 60 × MM + SS) × nominal fps + FF, minus, for drop-frame, D × (total minutes − ⌊total minutes ÷ 10⌋), where nominal fps is 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 and D = 2 at 29.97 DF or 4 at 59.94 DF. Frames back to drop-frame timecode re-insert the skipped labels: per 10 minutes there are 600 × fps − 9D frames and per dropped minute 60 × fps − D. Real time = frames ÷ actual rate, e.g. 30000/1001 ≈ 29.97 fps.

Worked examples

01:00:00;00 + 00:10:30;15 at 29.97 DF: Timecode A (HH:MM:SS:FF; drop-frame may use ;FF): 01:00:00:00 HH:MM:SS:FF; Timecode B (for add or subtract): 00:10:30:15 HH:MM:SS:FF; Frame count (frames to timecode): 1800 frames; Operation: add; Frame rate: 29.97df.
Example result: Result timecode: 01:10:30;15; Total frames: 126,789; Real-time duration: 4,230.526 s (1:10:30.526); Timecode A in frames: 107,892; Frame rate: 30000/1001 = 29.97003 fps, drop-frame (2 labels skipped per minute except every 10th).

01:00:00:00 to frames at 23.976 fps: Timecode A (HH:MM:SS:FF; drop-frame may use ;FF): 01:00:00:00 HH:MM:SS:FF; Timecode B (for add or subtract): 00:10:30:15 HH:MM:SS:FF; Frame count (frames to timecode): 1800 frames; Operation: toFrames; Frame rate: 23.976.
Example result: Result timecode: 01:00:00:00; Total frames: 86,400; Real-time duration: 3,603.6 s (1:00:03.600); Timecode A in frames: 86,400; Frame rate: 24000/1001 = 23.976024 fps, non-drop.

Limitations and common mistakes

Standard SMPTE drop-frame numbering for 29.97 and 59.94 fps; 23.976 fps uses non-drop numbering, so its timecode runs slow against the wall clock by 0.1%. Timecode is not wrapped at 24 hours, and field/interlace flags, user bits and 50/60 fps pair notation are not modelled.

Treating 29.97 drop-frame as if it dropped frames of picture: only timecode labels are skipped (;00 and ;01 at most minute starts); every frame is still there.

Sources and assumptions

Method TIMECODE-MATH-1.0; last formula review 2026-11-04. Sources and their supported claims. Calculation methodology.