Film Calculator

Film Length and Run-time

Motion picture film is measured in feet, but directors plan shoots in minutes. The link between them depends on your film format, frame rate, and how many frames fit in each foot of stock. Standard 16 mm film at 24 fps needs about 2700 ft for a 60-minute shoot.

Film Calculator Formulas

Film length in feet from run-time in minutes:

$$\text{film length} = \text{run-time} \times \frac{\text{fps} \times 60}{\text{frames per foot}}$$

Feet per minute tells you how fast you consume stock:

$$\text{feet per minute} = \frac{\text{fps} \times 60}{\text{frames per foot}}$$

Related tools: Exposure Calculator and Crop Factor Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does film format matter?

Each format packs a different number of frames per foot. 8 mm fits 80 frames per foot while 35 mm 4-perf fits only 16, so the same run-time needs more 35 mm stock.

What frame rate should I use?

24 fps is the cinema standard for sound film. 30 fps is common for video. Higher frame rates consume more film per minute of action.

How many 400 ft rolls do I need?

Divide total film length by 400. A 2700 ft shoot needs about 6.75 rolls of 400 ft stock.

What is feet per minute?

It is how many feet of film pass through the camera each minute at your chosen frame rate and format. For 16 mm at 24 fps it is 36 ft/min.

Can I plan run-time from leftover film?

Yes. Divide your remaining feet by feet per minute to see how many minutes you can still shoot.

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Film Length and Run-time

Film Calculator Formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

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