Podcast Episode Length Calculator
Estimate your episode duration, get platform-specific recommendations, and plan ad breaks. Built for podcasters.
Episode Duration Breakdown
Platform Fit
Optimal: 20-45 min — Most popular episodes are 20-40 min
Optimal: 30-60 min — Listeners prefer longer, in-depth content
Optimal: 15-30 min — Shorter works better for video format
Optimal: 1-3 min — Clip highlights for social
Ad Slot Recommendations
For a 40 min episode, we recommend 2 ad breaks:
• Pre-roll: 15-30 sec at the start (highest CPM)
• Mid-roll: 60 sec around the 18 min mark (best engagement)
How to Plan Your Podcast Episode Length
- Enter your script or notes word count
- Select your episode format (interview, solo, narrative, etc.)
- Toggle intro/outro and set ad breaks
- Review the duration breakdown and platform fit recommendations
Episode Length by Podcast Format
Solo monologue shows work well at 15-25 minutes — enough to cover a topic without losing attention. Interview podcasts naturally run 30-60 minutes as conversations develop. Narrative/storytelling shows benefit from 20-40 minute episodes that maintain dramatic tension. News briefings are most effective at 10-20 minutes for daily consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a podcast episode be?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Most successful podcasts run 20-45 minutes. Interview shows tend to be 30-60 minutes, while news briefings work well at 10-20 minutes. The key is matching your content depth to your audience's expectations.
How does the calculator estimate episode duration?
It uses your word count and the speaking pace for your chosen format. Interview formats average 140 WPM, solo shows 155 WPM, and news briefings 165 WPM. It then adds time for intro, outro, and ad breaks.
How many ad breaks should I include?
For episodes under 15 minutes, skip ads. For 15-30 minutes, one mid-roll works well. For 30-60 minutes, a pre-roll and mid-roll are standard. Longer episodes can support 3 ad breaks without annoying listeners.
What's the optimal podcast length for Spotify?
Spotify's most popular episodes tend to be 20-40 minutes. However, this varies by genre — true crime and interview shows often run longer, while daily news podcasts are typically 10-20 minutes.
Does episode length affect listener retention?
Yes. Shorter episodes (under 30 min) tend to have higher completion rates. However, engaged audiences for niche topics often prefer longer, in-depth episodes. Match your length to your content quality.
How many words is a 30-minute podcast?
A 30-minute podcast episode typically contains 4,000-5,000 words of spoken content, depending on speaking pace and format. Interview formats with natural pauses tend toward the lower end.
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