Setlist Timing Calculator
Calculate total setlist duration including song lengths, breaks between songs, and stage announcements.
Plan your performance down to the minute.
Every performer eventually learns their set length the hard way, which is to say from a sound engineer making a cutting motion across their throat from the side of the stage. Running over is a scheduling problem for the venue and for the acts after you, and it is remembered. Running badly short is its own kind of awkward.
Solo sets, club gigs and audition slots all come down to the same arithmetic: songs, the gaps between them, and however long you talk.
Standard Performance Slot Lengths
| Venue / Event Type | Typical Slot |
|---|---|
| Open mic set | 10–20 minutes |
| Support / opening act | 20–40 minutes |
| Club headliner (early show) | 45–75 minutes |
| Club headliner (late show) | 60–90 minutes |
| Festival slot (small stage) | 30–45 minutes |
| Festival slot (main stage) | 45–75 minutes |
| Wedding / function band | 2–4 hours (with breaks) |
| Theatre / concert (full show) | 90–120 minutes (with interval) |
What Takes Up Time Beyond Songs
- Gap between songs: Tuning, pedal changes, drink of water. Typically 20–60 seconds.
- Spoken introductions: Explaining a song’s background or thanking the audience. 30–120 seconds.
- Banter and crowd interaction: Can be 1–3 minutes between songs
- Encores: If expected, add 1–2 songs (typically 3–8 minutes) plus about 3 minutes standing in the wings while the room shouts for you. The calculator adds that pause on its own once you choose an encore, since the venue’s clock does not stop while you are offstage.
- Technical issues: Sound problems, broken strings. Allow a small buffer.
The Formula
Total set time = Sum of song durations + (Number of gaps × average gap time) + announcement time
Pacing Tips
- Start with an energetic song that grabs attention immediately
- Build peaks and valleys, and don’t play your best song second
- Slower, more intimate songs work well in the middle or as pre-encore
- End on a strong, memorable note
- Your most popular or recognizable song is typically saved for 2nd to last or the encore
- Leave the audience wanting more. Ending a minute early beats going over.
For Auditions and Showcases
Always know exactly how long you’re allowed to play. If given 15 minutes, plan 13 minutes of music to allow for setup adjustments. Judges at auditions are impressed by professionalism and time awareness.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.