Frames to timecode converter

How frames become timecode

Timecode counts frames in hours, minutes, seconds and frames, so the conversion depends on the timecode rate. At 24, frame 86,400 is 01:00:00:00; at 25 the same frame is 00:57:36:00. Pick the rate your project uses before converting.

23.976 and 29.97 count like 24 and 30

Non-drop timecode at 23.976 counts frames exactly like 24, and 29.97 non-drop like 30. The timecode is the same; only the real running time differs, because the frames play slightly slower. That's why the converter shows real time too: 86,400 frames at 23.976 is 01:00:00:00 of timecode but runs 1 hour and 3.6 seconds.

Drop-frame is different

At 29.97 and 59.94 drop-frame, some frame numbers are skipped so the timecode keeps up with the clock, so frame counts and timecode no longer line up minute for minute. The converter handles that for you; the drop-frame guide explains what's skipped and why.

Where frame counts come from

Frame counts turn up in VFX pulls, frame-accurate logs, render settings, and anywhere a tool counts from zero instead of from a timecode. Converting them by hand is easy to get wrong by one, so check here.