Timelapse Interval Calculator

Timelapse photography compresses time by taking photos at regular intervals and playing them back as a video to show slow processes (sunsets, clouds, construction, plant growth) in fast-forward. Getting the interval right is critical: too short and storage fills fast; too long and the motion looks jerky or you miss the event.

Key Timelapse Formulas

Number of photos needed:

Photos = (Video duration in seconds) × (Frame rate in FPS)

Interval between shots:

Interval = Total event duration ÷ Number of photos

Total shooting time:

Shooting time = Number of photos × Interval

Standard Frame Rates

Recommended Intervals by Subject

Storage Considerations

Each RAW photo is typically 20–50 MB. Each JPEG is 4–12 MB. Calculate storage needed:
Total storage = Number of photos × File size per image

For a 10-second video at 30 fps with 10-second intervals:

• Photos: 10 × 30 = 300 photos
• JPEG storage: 300 × 8 MB ≈ 2.4 GB
• RAW storage: 300 × 25 MB ≈ 7.5 GB

Shutter Speed Note

For smooth timelapse, follow the 180-degree rule: shutter speed = interval ÷ 2 (in daylight that usually takes an ND filter). For a 5-second interval, use a 2.5-second exposure. This creates subtle motion blur between frames that looks natural in the final video.

Battery Planning

Most DSLR batteries last 500–1,000 shots. Plan for power accordingly, especially for long overnight shoots. An AC adapter or external battery bank is ideal for multi-hour shoots.

This page works backwards from the video you want. If you have already picked an interval and want to see what clip it gives, the timelapse calculator runs it forward. The two agree: a 90-minute sunrise for a 30-second clip at 24 fps is 720 photos at 7.5 seconds on both.