BPM Finder: Detect a Song's Tempo
This BPM finder detects the tempo of a song from the file itself: drop MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC or even a video, and each track gets its beats per minute, a confidence rating and the half-time and double-time values. Analyse a whole playlist folder at once. The audio is analysed on your device and never uploaded, and nothing about the file is changed.
- Runs on your device
- Web Audio
- Works offline
Updated
Drop your videos or audio files here
How to find the BPM of a song
Step 1: Drop one or more songs on the box above. Videos work too; their soundtrack is analysed.
Step 2: Press Analyse. Each file takes a few seconds, because only three short excerpts are decoded.
Step 3: Read the tempo and confidence on each result card, or download the small text report.
Good to know
Formats
Batch-friendly: add many files and they are processed one after another — if one fails, the rest still finish.
How it runs
- Web Audio
- Audio is processed with the browser’s built-in Web Audio engine, sample-accurate and fast.
How to read the result
The headline number is the tempo the detector is most confident about, rounded to a whole BPM. The rest of the report tells you how much to trust it and what the likely alternatives are, which matters for DJ mixing and for songs with a half-time feel.
| Field | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Tempo | 124 BPM (124.0) | Detected beats per minute, with one decimal in brackets |
| Confidence | High (82%) | High from 70%, Medium from 40%, Low below. Low usually means speech, free tempo or no clear drums |
| Half / double time | 62 / 248 BPM | The two values a different counter or DJ app might show for the same song |
| Analysed | 1:12 in 3 excerpts | How much audio was used and the tempo of each excerpt, so you can spot tempo changes |
What does BPM mean in music?
BPM stands for beats per minute: how many times you would tap your foot in one minute of the song. A tempo of 120 BPM means a beat every half second. Musicians use it to set a metronome, DJs to match two tracks before mixing, producers to sync loops and samples, and runners or instructors to pick songs that fit a pace.
Tempo is about the pulse you feel, which is why the same song can reasonably be called 70 or 140 BPM. That half-time and double-time ambiguity is the most common reason two BPM tools disagree.
| Style | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Ballads, slow R&B | 60–80 |
| Hip-hop | 85–115 |
| Reggaeton | 88–100 |
| Pop | 100–130 |
| House | 118–130 |
| Techno | 125–150 |
| Dubstep | around 140 (often felt as 70) |
| Drum and bass | 160–180 |
How does the BPM detector work?
For most files only part of the song is decoded, and nothing is played. The detector reads three 24-second excerpts, from about 20%, 50% and 80% into the song (songs under about 40 seconds, and the rarer formats your browser cannot seek in, are read whole), mixes them to mono and looks for onsets: the moments where energy jumps, such as kicks, snares and strummed chords. The regular spacing of those onsets, found with autocorrelation, gives the tempo.
Candidates from 40 to 240 BPM are scored in 0.1 BPM steps, with a mild preference for the range around 120 BPM that settles most half-time or double-time doubts. The three excerpts are then compared; when they agree, confidence goes up.
How accurate is a BPM finder?
Reliable for music with a steady beat: electronic, pop, hip-hop and most rock usually land on the right whole number. Accuracy drops when the beat is unclear or not steady.
- Half or double time. Songs with a half-time feel can come out at half or double the value you expect. Use the half/double line in the report.
- Live recordings and older songs. A drummer who speeds up gives each excerpt a slightly different tempo; the report shows all three.
- Tempo changes. A song that changes tempo gets the value that best fits all three excerpts; check the per-excerpt numbers.
- No drums. Ambient, classical and solo voice often get Low confidence; treat the number as a guess.
How to find the BPM of a song manually
Start a stopwatch, count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four; 31 beats in 15 seconds is about 124 BPM. For more precision, count for 30 seconds and multiply by two, or measure the time of 16 beats and divide 960 by the seconds. Manual counting is handy for a live band; for files, the detector above is faster and usually more exact.
Can it find the key of a song?
No, this page measures tempo only. Musical key detection is not built in yet. If you want to sing or play along in a different key once you know it, the pitch changer moves a song up or down in semitones without changing its tempo.
Tips & troubleshooting
Want a track faster or slower to match another one? After finding both tempos, use the audio speed changer: the ratio of the two BPMs is the speed to set.
Analysing a DJ set or a long mix? Cut out one song first with the MP3 cutter, since the detector expects a single tempo.
If the confidence is Low on a song that clearly has drums, check the half/double line before deciding the number is wrong.
Drop a whole folder: every song gets its own card and text report, and the ZIP download keeps the reports together.
Building a running playlist? Many runners pick songs near their step rate, often 160–180 steps per minute, or half of it; the half/double line makes that easy to compare.
BPM Finder FAQ
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Drop the song on this page and press Analyse. A few seconds later the result card shows the tempo in beats per minute, a confidence rating, and the half-time and double-time values. It works with MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG and video files.
How accurate is this BPM finder?
For music with a steady beat it usually lands on the right whole BPM. Songs without drums, live recordings that drift and songs with a half-time feel are harder; the confidence rating and the per-excerpt values tell you when to double-check.
Why does it show half or double the BPM I expected?
Because the same groove can be counted at two speeds. A 140 BPM dubstep track is often felt at 70. The report always lists the half-time and double-time values, so pick the one that matches how you count it.
Can it find the key of a song?
No. This tool detects tempo only; key detection is not available. Once you know the key from another source, the pitch changer can transpose the song.
Can I find the BPM of several songs at once?
Yes. Drop as many files as you like; each is analysed in turn and gets its own result card. Download the reports one by one or all together as a ZIP.
What does “No steady beat found” mean?
The file was too short, silent or had no regular rhythm to lock on to, such as a spoken recording or a clip under a few seconds. Instead of guessing a number, the report says so. Try a longer section of the song with a clear beat.
Are my songs uploaded?
No. The analysis runs in your browser and only reads short excerpts of each file. Nothing is sent to a server, and the song itself is not modified or re-encoded.