Frame rates explained
The frame rate (fps) is how many pictures a video shows per second. Cinema uses 24 fps, European TV 25/50 fps, American TV 29.97/59.94 fps, and phones and the web usually 30 or 60 fps.
When you lower the frame rate (60 → 30), every second frame is dropped — the video looks the same but the file gets smaller. When you raise it (24 → 60), frames must be repeated or blended; real new motion can’t be invented, but blending makes movement look smoother.
Many phones and screen recorders produce variable frame rate (VFR) video, where the time between frames changes. Editors like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Vegas can then drift out of sync with the audio. Converting to a constant frame rate (CFR) fixes this.
Which frame rate should I use?
| Frame rate | Look | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 23.976 / 24 fps | Cinematic | Films, music videos |
| 25 fps | TV (Europe) | PAL broadcast, EU TV |
| 29.97 / 30 fps | Natural | Web, phones, US TV |
| 50 fps | Smooth | Sports (Europe) |
| 59.94 / 60 fps | Very smooth | Gaming, sports, screen recordings |
| 120 fps | Ultra smooth | Slow-motion editing, high-refresh displays |
Tips
- Want slow motion or a time-lapse instead? That changes the speed — use Change Video Speed.
- Check the exact frame rate of a file with the Video Metadata Viewer.
- Going from 60 to 30 fps roughly halves the bitrate needed — combine it with the Video Compressor for smaller files.
- For GIFs, 10–15 fps is usually enough: try Video to GIF.