Set length calculator: how many songs fit in your set
A 45-minute set fits about 10 songs if they average four minutes, with 20 seconds between songs and 2 minutes left spare. Put in your own numbers below.
Updated
How many songs fit, by slot
Each cell assumes 20 seconds between songs and 2 minutes left spare at the end.
| Slot | 3:30 songs | 4:00 songs | 4:30 songs | 5:00 songs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 min | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 30 min | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 45 min | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| 60 min | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
| 90 min | 23 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
How the math works
Ten songs have nine gaps between them, not ten. So the set takes songs x song length + (songs - 1) x gap, and it has to fit inside the slot minus your buffer. The calculator finds the largest number of songs that does.
The average song length is where most bands guess wrong, and they usually guess short. If you can, add up the real lengths of the songs you plan to play instead of using an average. That is what the running time in Setlist does: it adds the length of each song as you drag it into the set.
Typical set lengths by gig
- Club or bar: one set of 45 to 60 minutes, sometimes two with a break.
- Festival slot: often 30 minutes, with a hard stop.
- Wedding: two to four sets of about 45 minutes with breaks between.
- Corporate event: can be 90 minutes of background music, then a 45-minute dance set.
Whatever the gig, get the slot length in writing before you build the set. More on that in how long should a live set be.
Common questions
How many songs are in a 45-minute set?
About 10 if your average song is four minutes, with 20 seconds between songs and 2 minutes left spare. Shorter songs (3:30) fit 11, longer ones (5:00) fit 8.
How many songs are in a 60-minute set?
About 13 four-minute songs, or 15 if your songs average 3:30.
How many songs are in a 30-minute set?
About 6 four-minute songs. With so few, open and close with the ones that land hardest.
How much time should I leave between songs?
Plan 15 to 30 seconds for a count-off, a quick retune or a word to the room. A band that talks before every song can add ten minutes to an hour set without noticing.
Should a set run exactly to the slot?
No. Build it two or three minutes short. Songs stretch on stage, and finishing two minutes early is professional while running five minutes over gets you cut off.