BPM Calculator
Tap along to a beat to calculate its tempo in beats per minute (BPM).
Just tap the button in rhythm and get an accurate BPM reading.
BPM (beats per minute) is the universal measure of musical tempo. This calculator lets you tap to detect BPM, or enter a known BPM to find the duration of each beat and common musical subdivisions.
Core formulas:
BPM = 60,000 / Beat Duration (ms)
Beat Duration (ms) = 60,000 / BPM
Subdivision Duration = Beat Duration / Subdivision Factor
Subdivision factors:
| Note Value | Factor | Example at 120 BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Whole note | ÷ 0.25 | 2,000 ms |
| Half note | ÷ 0.5 | 1,000 ms |
| Quarter note | ÷ 1 | 500 ms |
| Eighth note | ÷ 2 | 250 ms |
| Sixteenth note | ÷ 4 | 125 ms |
| Triplet eighth | ÷ 3 | 166.7 ms |
Tap tempo method: Tap at least 4 beats, calculate average interval between taps, then: BPM = 60,000 / avg_interval_ms
Worked example: Tap intervals: 498 ms, 503 ms, 501 ms, 499 ms → Average: 500.25 ms BPM = 60,000 / 500.25 ≈ 119.9 BPM (effectively 120 BPM)
Standard tempo markings (Italian terms):
| Marking | BPM Range | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | 20–40 | Very slow, solemn |
| Largo | 40–60 | Slow and broad |
| Andante | 70–85 | Walking pace |
| Moderato | 86–110 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120–156 | Fast and lively |
| Presto | 168–200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200+ | Extremely fast |
Delay time sync: At 120 BPM, a quarter-note delay = 500 ms. Syncing delay and reverb times to your BPM keeps effects rhythmically locked to the music.