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Video Editing Render Time Calculator

Work out video editing render time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Video Editing Render Time Calculator

Render time is the timeline length multiplied by the render ratio, with hardware encoding assumed to cut that ratio to roughly 40% of the software figure. A ratio above one means the render is slower than real time, which is the point at which batching overnight becomes more sensible than waiting.

Formulas

Render time

render minutes = timeline minutes x render ratio

Hardware encoding

effective ratio = software ratio x 0.4 when GPU accelerated

Worked example

With the default values below, Video Editing Render Time Calculator returns Render time of 16.80. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Timeline lengthminimum 0.1 min
12 min
Render time per minute of footageminimum 0.01 x
3.5 x
GPU accelerated encoding
Yes

Results

Render time
16.80 min
Render time in hours, minutes and seconds
0:16:48
Effective render ratio
1.400 x
Speed relative to real time
0.714 x

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Render time
  3. 3Hardware encoding
  4. 4Render time= 16.80 min
  5. 5Render time in hours, minutes and seconds= 0:16:48
  6. 6Effective render ratio= 1.400 x
  7. 7Speed relative to real time= 0.714 x

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Video Editing Render Time figure worked out?

render minutes = timeline minutes x render ratio. Render time is the timeline length multiplied by the render ratio, with hardware encoding assumed to cut that ratio to roughly 40% of the software figure.

Why does this matter?

A ratio above one means the render is slower than real time, which is the point at which batching overnight becomes more sensible than waiting.

What do I need to enter?

Enter timeline length, render time per minute of footage, gpu accelerated encoding. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.

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Video Editing Render Time Calculator – Calculate Render time