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Frame Rate Converter

Converter

Conversion Mode

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Set your frame rates, enter values, and press Convert.

About This Tool

Frame Rate Converter – Convert FPS, Timecodes, and Frame Counts

The Frame Rate Converter is a free browser-based tool for video editors, animators, and broadcast engineers who need to convert between different video frame rates (frames per second, fps). It handles five distinct conversion modes: frame count conversion, duration-to-frame-count conversion, SMPTE timecode conversion, 2:3 pulldown telecine calculation, and dropped-or-duplicated frame analysis. No software installation or registration is required.

Whether you are conforming footage from cinema 24 fps to NTSC 29.97 fps, computing the SMPTE timecode equivalent across standards, or calculating how many frames will be added or removed during a frame-rate conform, all results are calculated client-side with precise arithmetic based on the SMPTE 12M standard.

Supported Frame Rate Standards

The tool includes presets for every major video and broadcast standard:

  • 23.976 fps — NTSC film standard (24 × 1000/1001). Used for film content distributed on NTSC video and streaming platforms.
  • 24 fps — International cinema standard since the 1920s. Used in theatrical films and most high-end video production.
  • 25 fps — PAL and SECAM broadcast standard used in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Also the standard for SD and HD European television.
  • 29.97 fps — NTSC broadcast standard (30 × 1000/1001). Used for standard and high-definition television in North America and Japan.
  • 30 fps — Web video and online streaming standard. Also used in some broadcast workflows where exact clock synchronization is not required.
  • 48, 50, 59.94, 60 fps — High-frame-rate formats for sports broadcasts, HFR cinema (The Hobbit), and high-definition slow-motion capture.
  • 90, 120, 240 fps — High-speed capture formats used for gaming, VR, and scientific slow-motion analysis.

You can also enter any custom frame rate between 0.001 and 1000 fps.

Conversion Modes Explained

Frame Count Conversion

Converts a known frame count from source to target frame rate, assuming the same playback duration (retiming). The formula is: target_frames = round(source_frames × (target_fps / source_fps)). For example, 2400 frames at 24 fps equals 100 seconds; retimed to 30 fps, that becomes 3000 frames.

Duration Conversion

Enter a duration in seconds (or MM:SS / HH:MM:SS format) and the tool calculates how many frames that duration contains at both the source and target frame rates. This is useful for comparing frame budgets across standards — for example, a 2-minute clip requires 2,877 frames at 23.976 fps but 3,600 frames at 30 fps.

Timecode Conversion

Converts a SMPTE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) from one frame rate to its equivalent at another frame rate. The tool supports drop-frame (DF) and non-drop-frame (NDF) notation. Drop-frame timecode — indicated by a semicolon separator (01:00:00;00) — is only valid for 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps. It periodically skips frame numbers (not actual frames) to keep timecode synchronized with wall-clock time.

Drop-frame vs Non-drop-frame
Use drop-frame timecode for broadcast delivery in North America and Japan. Use non-drop-frame timecode for cinema and film post-production workflows.

2:3 Pulldown

The 2:3 pulldown (also called telecine) is the technique used to transfer 24 fps film to 29.97 or 30 fps video. Every group of 4 film frames is converted to 5 video frames by repeating fields in an AABBB cadence — frame A appears across 2 video fields, the next frame A across 2 fields, then frame B across 3 fields. This produces a 25% increase in frame count without changing the apparent playback duration.

Dropped and Duplicated Frames

When conforming footage from a high frame rate to a lower one (or vice versa) without altering duration, frames must be dropped or duplicated. This mode calculates exactly how many frames are removed or repeated. For example, conforming 600 frames at 60 fps to 24 fps over a 10-second clip requires dropping 360 frames. Excessive frame dropping can cause noticeable motion judder.

Common Use Cases

  • Calculating how many frames a video will contain before editing begins
  • Converting SMPTE timecodes when mixing footage from multiple cameras or standards
  • Determining whether audio pitch correction is needed after a frame-rate conform
  • Computing the 2:3 pulldown cadence for telecine transfer to NTSC broadcast
  • Checking frame counts for visual effects budgets and render estimates
  • Converting PAL footage (25 fps) to NTSC (29.97 fps) for international distribution

Understanding NTSC Frame Rates (1000/1001 Factor)

NTSC frame rates such as 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps are not exactly 30 or 60 fps — they are precisely 30000/1001 ≈ 29.97002997 fps and 60000/1001 ≈ 59.94005994 fps. This 0.1% difference originates from the transition to color television in the 1950s, when the frame rate was slightly reduced to prevent interference between the color subcarrier and audio carrier. Over a one-hour program, non-drop-frame timecode at 29.97 fps runs about 3.6 seconds behind real time, which is why drop-frame timecode was introduced.

Precision note
All frame counts are rounded to the nearest integer since a partial frame cannot exist. For very long durations or extreme frame-rate combinations, small rounding differences may accumulate. Always verify final delivery specs against your NLE's timecode display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Frame Rate Converter free?

Yes, Frame Rate Converter is totally free :)

Can I use the Frame Rate Converter offline?

Yes, you can install the webapp as PWA.

Is it safe to use Frame Rate Converter?

Yes, any data related to Frame Rate Converter only stored in your browser (if storage required). You can simply clear browser cache to clear all the stored data. We do not store any data on server.

How does this Frame Rate Converter work?

Select a conversion mode — Frame Count, Duration, Timecode, Pulldown, or Dropped/Duplicated Frames — then enter your source and target frame rates and the value to convert. The tool applies the appropriate formula (retiming math, SMPTE drop-frame timecode arithmetic, or 2:3 pulldown cadence) and displays the converted result along with the frame difference and speed ratio.

What is the difference between 23.976, 24, 29.97, and 30 fps?

24 fps is the standard cinema frame rate. 23.976 fps is its NTSC variant (24 × 1000/1001), used for film content distributed on NTSC video. 30 fps is the broadcast standard in North America and Japan, while 29.97 fps is its NTSC variant (30 × 1000/1001). The 0.1% difference between integer and NTSC frame rates is why drop-frame timecode was invented — to keep timecode clocks synchronized with real time.

What is drop-frame timecode and when should I use it?

Drop-frame timecode is a SMPTE standard for 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps that periodically skips two (or four) frame numbers — not actual frames — to keep timecode synchronized with real wall-clock time. It should be used for broadcast delivery in North America and Japan whenever accurate program duration is required. Use non-drop-frame (NDF) timecode for film post-production and most cinema workflows.

What is 2:3 pulldown and why is it used?

2:3 pulldown (also called 3:2 pulldown) is a telecine technique that converts 24 fps film to 29.97 fps (NTSC) video by repeating fields in a 2-3-2-3 pattern: each group of 4 film frames becomes 5 video frames (AABBB cadence). This preserves the original film frame count while conforming to the video frame rate without changing the playback speed.

Will converting between frame rates change the audio pitch or speed?

If you do a simple frame-rate conform (same number of frames, different rate), the playback speed and audio pitch will change by the ratio of target to source FPS. For example, conforming 24 fps to 30 fps plays the video 25% faster with a corresponding pitch shift. True retiming (adding or removing frames to preserve duration) keeps playback speed and audio pitch unchanged but requires intermediate frame blending or optical flow processing.

How accurate are the timecode conversions?

Timecode conversions follow the SMPTE 12M standard exactly. Drop-frame calculations drop 2 frame numbers per minute (4 for 59.94 fps) except every 10th minute, matching standard NLE and broadcast equipment behavior. Frame counts are rounded to the nearest integer since a partial frame cannot exist. The tool does not perform sub-frame interpolation.