There's no perfect podcast episode runtime. But there is a sweet spot, and it depends entirely on your show, audience, and production limits. So, if you're asking how long should a podcast be, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions new podcasters have and one of the most misunderstood.
Some creators default to 20 minutes because that's what a blog told them. Others record sprawling two-hour epics because Joe Rogan does it. The truth sits somewhere in between, and it starts with understanding your format and how real listeners behave.
The Reality Behind the Numbers
According to Buzzsprout's 2024 data, most podcasts settle in the 30–45 minute range. About 31% of episodes clock in between 20 and 40 minutes, while another 21% run 40 to 60 minutes. Only 15% go beyond the one-hour mark.
Those numbers give us a general picture, but they shouldn't dictate your choices. Your ideal length isn't about hitting the average. It's about creating an experience that fits your content and keeps your audience coming back.
Format Drives Length
The type of podcast you produce will naturally shape how long your episodes should be:
- News shows: 20–30 minutes. Listeners expect fast updates with just enough context. Short news podcasts (under 10 minutes) often lose listeners faster, so brevity is good, but not if it sacrifices clarity.
- Comedy podcasts: 30–40 minutes. That gives room for jokes to breathe without overstaying their welcome. Go too short and you risk losing momentum; go too long and punchlines start to feel like filler.
- Interview-based shows: 30–60 minutes. This gives enough space for a guest to tell real stories or unpack an idea. The more famous the guest, the more leeway you have—but even celebrity conversations lose energy if they meander without structure.
- True crime and narrative storytelling: 40–50 minutes. That time allows for setup, suspense, and payoff, especially when the story builds over multiple episodes.
- Educational podcasts: 35–50 minutes. That's long enough to explain a topic in depth, but not so long that it becomes overwhelming. If your subject matter is highly technical, consider breaking longer episodes into chapters or segments to maintain attention.
Listener Behavior Tells You Even More
One of the most useful metrics you can track is listener drop-off:
- Podcasts between 30 and 60 minutes retain over 70% of their listeners through the halfway point.
- When episodes cross the 60-minute mark, retention drops. Only about 65% of listeners make it halfway.
- Beyond an hour, the falloff gets steeper. Long episodes (especially those between 90 and 120 minutes) see a total drop-off rate of nearly 45%.
So yes, people can love long episodes. But more often, they just don't finish them.
What About Celebrities With Podcasts?
Here's where things break the rules. Celebrities almost never wonder, "how long should a podcast be?" When you've got name recognition, the usual standards don't apply:
- "SmartLess" (Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett): about 50 minutes per episode
- "Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend": Around 46 minutes
- "Armchair Expert" with Dax Shepard: Frequently runs 90 minutes to three hours
- "The Joe Rogan Experience": Regularly exceeds the three-hour mark
Why does it work for them? Built-in audiences. Fans will listen to these people talk about absolutely anything for a very long time.
But not all famous hosts go long. "Office Ladies" averages 38 minutes, and "Getting Curious" with Jonathan Van Ness sticks close to 30. Even among celebrities with podcasts, there's a clear understanding: focused episodes tend to perform better, even when you're famous.
The Pros and Cons of Going Short or Long
Short episodes (under 20 minutes):
- Great for accessibility
- Easier to produce, faster to edit
- Higher completion rates
- Fit nicely into busy schedules or daily publishing routines
- Downside: Tough to explore complex topics in depth, fewer opportunities for mid-roll ads or listener calls-to-action
Long episodes (over an hour):
- Give you space to dig deep
- Build stronger fan loyalty because if listeners stick around, they're probably all in
- Downside: Longer editing sessions, more post-production, and a higher risk of losing your audience along the way
What Actually Matters
So how long should a podcast be? Think about it like this:
- What does your content need? If your topic takes 45 minutes to do justice, don't force it into 20. But don't pad a 15-minute update just because you feel like you should.
- How does your audience listen? Are they commuters? Gym-goers? Working-from-home multitaskers? A 27-minute average U.S. commute might be a better guide than the latest stats.
- How often are you publishing? Short daily episodes can be sustainable. Long weekly ones might work better if you need production time.
- What can you realistically produce? Be honest. If editing a 90-minute conversation every week is draining your energy, it's not worth it.
If You're Just Getting Started
The best starting point? Aim for the middle. A 20–40 minute range is flexible enough to give your show structure without boxing you in. Then, watch your analytics closely. Completion rates, retention curves, and listener feedback will tell you what's working.
Stick to a consistent rhythm. That doesn't mean every episode must be exactly 34 minutes long, but your audience should know roughly what to expect. And occasionally, run an experiment. Drop a shorter bonus episode. Try a longer deep dive. See what resonates.
Most of all, remember this: content quality will always beat perfect timing.
The Bottom Line
Podcast episode length is less about finding the "right" number and more about honoring your format, respecting your listeners, and building habits that work for you. If your content is strong, your audience will follow, whether it's 10 minutes or 90.
So stop obsessing over averages and start focusing on value. Great podcasts earn their runtime. Make yours worth every minute.
Want to create episodes your listeners will actually finish? Zencastr makes it easy to record, edit, and publish—all in one place. Whether you're keeping it tight or going long, we've got the tools to help you sound your best.
