Frame Rate Calculator

What is frame rate?

Frame rate is the number of individual images (frames) displayed per second, measured in fps. Higher frame rates produce smoother motion but create larger files. 30 fps is standard for screen recordings and web video. 60 fps is common for gameplay and smooth UI demos.

Common frame rates

• 24 fps — Cinema standard. The classic film look with natural motion blur.
• 25 fps — PAL broadcast standard used in Europe and parts of Asia.
• 30 fps — Web video, screen recordings, video calls. The default for most apps.
• 60 fps — Smooth motion. Good for UI demos, gaming, and high-action content.
• 120 fps — Slow motion capture. Play back at 30 or 60 fps for 4x or 2x slow-mo.

The 180° shutter rule

The 180-degree shutter rule sets shutter speed to double the frame rate for natural-looking motion blur. At 30 fps, use 1/60s. At 24 fps, use 1/48s. This produces the amount of blur your eye expects from each frame rate. Breaking the rule creates a stylistic look: faster shutter speeds give a sharp, staccato feel (like the beach scene in Saving Private Ryan).

Frame rate and file size

Doubling the frame rate roughly doubles the file size at the same bitrate and quality. Screen recordings compress well because consecutive frames are similar, so the jump from 30 to 60 fps might only add 40-60% to file size rather than 100%. Still, for most screen recordings, 30 fps is plenty.

Record at the right frame rate

ShipClip records your Mac screen at up to 60 fps with system audio, mic, and camera. Edit in the built-in timeline with zoom effects, then share with a link. Viewer analytics show who watched and where they stopped.

5 MB download. Try it free.