BPM Calculator — Convert BPM to Milliseconds & Delay Times
Enter any tempo and instantly get the length of every note value in milliseconds — the numbers you need for delay, reverb and LFO settings in your DAW.
| Note value | Length / delay time |
|---|---|
| Whole note (4 beats) | 2000.0 ms |
| Half note (2 beats) | 1000.0 ms |
| Quarter note (1 beat) | 500.0 ms |
| Dotted quarter (1.5 beats) | 750.0 ms |
| Eighth note (½ beat) | 250.0 ms |
| Dotted eighth (¾ beat) | 375.0 ms |
| Triplet quarter (⅔ beat) | 333.3 ms |
| Triplet eighth (⅓ beat) | 166.7 ms |
| Sixteenth note (¼ beat) | 125.0 ms |
Reverse: Milliseconds to BPM
Measured a delay or a loop length? Enter the milliseconds and get the tempo.
= 120 BPMHow to Use This BPM Calculator
Type your song's tempo into the BPM box (or drag the slider) and every value updates instantly. If you don't know the tempo yet, find it first with the tap tempo tool on the homepage — tap along with the song for a few seconds, then bring the BPM here. The reverse box works the other way: enter a time in milliseconds, such as a delay you measured or a loop length, and get the matching tempo.
The BPM to Milliseconds Formula
One minute has 60,000 milliseconds, so a single beat lasts 60,000 ÷ BPM milliseconds. At 120 BPM one beat is exactly 500 ms. Every other note value is a simple multiple or fraction of that beat: a half note is two beats (1,000 ms at 120 BPM), an eighth note is half a beat (250 ms), a dotted quarter stretches the beat by half again (750 ms), and a triplet squeezes three notes into the time of two (333.3 ms for a triplet quarter). The calculator above does all of this for any tempo between 20 and 300 BPM.
Why Producers Convert BPM to Milliseconds
Delay effects: setting a delay's time to a note value (a dotted eighth at your song's BPM is the classic U2-style echo) makes the repeats groove with the track instead of fighting it. Reverb: pre-delay and decay times synced to the beat keep the mix clean and rhythmic. LFOs and modulation: many synths ask for a rate in Hz or milliseconds rather than note values — the Hz figure at the top of the calculator covers that. Gates and compressors: release times chosen in note values make pumping effects breathe in time with the music.
Common BPM to ms Conversions
| BPM | Quarter note | Eighth note | Dotted eighth | Sixteenth note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1000.0 ms | 500.0 ms | 750.0 ms | 250.0 ms |
| 90 | 666.7 ms | 333.3 ms | 500.0 ms | 166.7 ms |
| 100 | 600.0 ms | 300.0 ms | 450.0 ms | 150.0 ms |
| 120 | 500.0 ms | 250.0 ms | 375.0 ms | 125.0 ms |
| 128 | 468.8 ms | 234.4 ms | 351.6 ms | 117.2 ms |
| 140 | 428.6 ms | 214.3 ms | 321.4 ms | 107.1 ms |
| 150 | 400.0 ms | 200.0 ms | 300.0 ms | 100.0 ms |
| 174 | 344.8 ms | 172.4 ms | 258.6 ms | 86.2 ms |
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BPM Calculator FAQs
How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM. For example, at 128 BPM one beat is 60,000 ÷ 128 = 468.8 ms. The calculator does this for every note value at once.
What delay time should I use at 120 BPM?
A quarter-note delay is 500 ms, an eighth note is 250 ms, and the popular dotted-eighth setting is 375 ms. Pick the value that fits the feel of the part — dotted eighths add a bouncing, rhythmic echo.
What is the difference between dotted and triplet notes?
A dotted note is stretched by half its value (a dotted quarter = 1.5 beats). A triplet packs three notes into the time normally taken by two (a triplet quarter = ⅔ of a beat), which gives a swinging, rolling feel.
How do I convert milliseconds back to BPM?
Divide 60,000 by the milliseconds: a 400 ms beat means 60,000 ÷ 400 = 150 BPM. Use the reverse box in the calculator for an instant answer.
What does Hz mean in this calculator?
Hz is cycles per second. A tempo of 120 BPM equals 2 beats per second, i.e. 2 Hz. Synth LFO rates are often set in Hz, so this figure lets you sync modulation to your track.