Podcast Episode Length: What Performs Best in 2026?

Written By Mark Hunter

When we’re consulting with podcast clients in our Glasgow studio, a question that almost always comes up is “how long should my podcast episodes be?”

To answer that question, we’ll take as much of a scientific look at as possible in the guide for 2026, and we’ve even got a handy table to give you as much information as easily as possible.

You're 12 minutes into recording when your guest hits their stride. The conversation's flowing, insights are landing, and you're thinking, "this could run 90 minutes easily." But should it?

Most podcasters guess at episode length based on gut feel or what competitors are doing. The truth? Podcasts lose 20-35% of their audience in the first 5 minutes of an episode (Riverside), and length plays a massive role in whether the remaining 65-80% stick around till the end.

Episode length isn't arbitrary. It's strategic. Get it wrong, and you'll watch completion rates plummet. Get it right and listeners finish episodes, subscribe, and come back for more.

Here's what the data actually shows about podcast length in 2026.

Nearly one-third of podcasts have episodes lasting 20-40 minutes (Podcast StatisticsThe Podcast Host), making this the most common duration across all genres. But "most common" doesn't mean "most effective" for your specific show.

Episode length distribution (2026 data):

  • Less than 10 minutes: 13%

  • 10-20 minutes: 14%

  • 20-40 minutes: 31%

  • 40-60 minutes: 23%

  • Over 60 minutes: 18%

The average podcast length is about 41 minutes (The Podcast Host), but this number masks significant variation across genres. A 15-minute true crime episode would feel incomplete. A 90-minute business interview would test patience.

Listener Retention: The Minutes That Matter

Over 70% of podcast listeners finish most or all of each episode, and 46% tune in within 24 hours of release RSS.com. That's remarkable engagement compared to other media — but only if your episode length matches listener expectations.

What kills retention:

  • Episodes under 20 minutes in genres where depth matters (business, true crime storytelling)

  • Episodes over 60 minutes without clear chapter breaks or compelling narrative structure

  • Inconsistent length (30 minutes one week, 75 minutes the next)

According to the 2022 MIDAS Survey, 68% of people listen to a podcast episode all the way through Come Alive. But this completion rate drops dramatically when episodes exceed audience expectations for that specific genre.

Episode Length by Genre: What Actually Works

True Crime: 45-75 Minutes

True crime thrives on narrative depth. True crime episodes need 45-75 minutes to methodically walk through case details while balancing storytelling with listener interest Deciphr AI.

Why this works:

  • Listeners expect a thorough investigation and context

  • Narrative structure needs time to build tension

  • Multiple perspectives require space to breathe

  • Story format episode length of 40-60 minutes or more is becoming the norm

Popular true crime podcast lengths (2026):

  • Small Town Murder: 128 minutes average

  • Crime in Sports: 134 minutes average

  • Psychopedia: 79 minutes average

  • True Crime Guys: 39 minutes average

  • Bite-Sized Crime: 15 minutes average (micro-format exception)

The sweet spot for most true crime shows sits between 45 and 60 minutes. Go shorter, and you can't tell the story properly. Go longer, and only super-fans complete episodes.

Exception: "Morning Cup of Murder" style shows (5-15 minutes) work for daily formats where listeners want a quick hit, not a deep investigation.

Business & Entrepreneurship: 25-40 Minutes

For business podcasts, the sweet spot is 20 to 40 minutes — this window captures the perfect balance: it honours your listener's time while diving deep enough to spark real change Crazi Studio.

Why this works:

  • Business listeners are time-conscious professionals

  • Commute-friendly duration (average UK commute: 30 minutes)

  • Long enough for actionable insights, short enough to stay focused

  • Respects that your audience is multitasking

Business podcast fans start tuning out after episodes pass the 60-minute mark Deciphr AI. The data's clear: business listeners want efficiency.

Structure that works best:

  • 5-minute intro/context

  • 15-25 minutes core content/interview

  • 5-minute takeaways/CTA

You can push to 50-60 minutes for high-profile guests or complex strategy discussions, but 25-40 minutes is the retention sweet spot for regular episodes.

Comedy: 30-55 Minutes

Comedy podcasts average 55 minutes, but retention patterns show nuance. For comedy podcasts, listeners tune out in big numbers when episodes are less than 20 minutes, but listener retention falls when episodes run over 45 minutes Deciphr AI.

Why this works:

  • Comedy needs time for banter and rhythm

  • Too short feels rushed and unfunny

  • Too long and energy dips (unless you're exceptionally good)

  • 30-45 minutes hits the sweet spot for most shows

Exceptions: Joe Rogan-style conversational comedy can run 2-3 hours, but that's an outlier format with massive existing audiences who tune in specifically for long-form content.

Interview Shows: 40-75 Minutes

Interview format shows start to lose people when stretching beyond 75 minutes with a single guest Deciphr AI.

The timing breakdown:

  • 10 minutes: Warm-up and guest introduction

  • 30-50 minutes: Core interview content

  • 5-10 minutes: Wrap-up and CTAs

Multi-guest roundtables can run longer (60-90 minutes) because conversation dynamics shift more frequently, helping maintain energy.

News & Current Affairs: 20-35 Minutes

In the news genre, listenership declines rapidly after 45 minutes Deciphr AI. News listeners want information density, not extended discussion.

Why shorter works:

  • News is time-sensitive — listeners want updates, not dissertations

  • Competing with quick-hit news sources (social media, news apps)

  • Daily or frequent publishing means shorter episodes prevent burnout

Most successful news podcasts are 20 to 30 minutes long. "The Daily" by The New York Times averages 20-30 minutes and dominates the category.

Episode Length Comparison Table

Genre Optimal Length Why It Works Drop-Off Point
True Crime 45-75 minutes Narrative depth, case details, multiple perspectives Under 30 min feels rushed; over 90 min loses casual listeners
Business/Entrepreneurship 25-40 minutes Commute-friendly, actionable insights, respects time Over 60 min loses engagement; under 20 min lacks depth
Comedy 30-55 minutes Banter needs time to build; comedic rhythm develops Under 20 min feels incomplete; over 60 min energy dips
Interview (General) 40-75 minutes Allows thorough discussion without fatigue Beyond 75 min with single guest
News/Current Affairs 20-35 minutes Information density, daily format sustainability Rapid decline after 45 min
Educational/How-To 20-40 minutes Focused learning, tactical tips without overwhelm Over 50 min unless complex topic demands it
Sports Analysis 35-55 minutes Game breakdown, highlights, fan engagement Over 60 min unless post-match or major event
Storytelling/Narrative 30-50 minutes Complete story arc with pacing Under 25 min rushes narrative; over 60 min drags

Studio Time Planning: The podcast studio glasgow Factor

Episode length directly impacts studio costs and recording logistics. At Podcast Studio Glasgow, we see this play out weekly.

Typical recording-to-final-length ratios:

  • 25-minute final episode: 45-60 minutes studio time (includes setup, recording, buffer for retakes)

  • 45-minute final episode: 75-90 minutes studio time

  • 75-minute final episode: 2-2.5 hours studio time

Why this matters for pricing:

Our £75/hour for one camera studio rate means:

  • 30-minute business podcast: ~£60-75 per episode (1 hour booking)

  • 45-minute interview show: ~£110-135 per episode (1.5-2 hour booking)

  • 60-minute in-depth conversation: ~£150-190 per episode (2-2.5 hour booking)

The Production Partner Programme (£1,500 for 6 monthly recording slots) works best for shows targeting 30-45 minute episodes. Record monthly, pay £250/session, get broadcast-quality 3-camera video recording.

Planning your studio booking:

  1. Decide your target episode length based on genre benchmarks above

  2. Add 50% for recording time (a 30-minute episode needs 45 minutes to record comfortably)

  3. Factor in 15 minutes setup/breakdown time

  4. Book accordingly

Shorter isn't always cheaper if you're sacrificing content quality. Better to record a focused 30-minute episode once than a rushed 20-minute session that needs re-recording.

How to Choose Your Episode Length

Step 1: Check your genre benchmarks Use the table above as your starting point. If you're creating a business podcast, start with 30-35 minutes. True crime? Think 50-60 minutes.

Step 2: Test with your audience Release 3-5 episodes at your chosen length, then check analytics:

  • What's your average listen-through rate?

  • Where do listeners drop off?

  • Are completion rates above 60%?

Step 3: Be consistent Choose a comfortable range and stay close to it. If you decide your episode length will be around 30 minutes, keep it within that range regularly. This builds trust and familiarity Crazi Studio.

Listeners should know what to expect. A show that bounces between 20 minutes and 90 minutes feels unpredictable and makes it harder for people to plan their listening.

Step 4: Prioritise quality over arbitrary length A focused 25-minute episode with clear sound, smooth editing, and strong structure builds more authority than a long, messy recording. Length alone does not create value Crazi Studio.

Don't pad episodes to hit a target. If you've said everything worth saying in 28 minutes, end the episode. Listeners respect efficiency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Copying Joe Rogan Joe Rogan's 2-3 hour episodes work because he has a massive existing audience who tune in specifically for long-form conversation. You probably don't. Start shorter, build to longer as your audience grows.

Mistake 2: Making every episode the same length regardless of content Some topics need 25 minutes. Others need 55. Build consistency around a range (e.g., "30-40 minutes") rather than a fixed number.

Mistake 3: Ignoring your own capacity Longer episodes require more upfront work from research and interviews to editing. Balance episode length with your bandwidth for thorough preparation and high-quality production Deciphr AI.

Recording 60-minute episodes weekly might burn you out if you're a solo creator. Two 30-minute episodes per month might be more sustainable than four 60-minute marathons.

The Bottom Line

Episode length isn't about hitting an arbitrary number. It's about matching listener expectations for your genre while delivering value efficiently.

Quick reference by genre:

  • Business: 25-40 minutes

  • True crime: 45-75 minutes

  • Comedy: 30-55 minutes

  • Interviews: 40-75 minutes

  • News: 20-35 minutes

Start with these benchmarks, test with your actual audience data, then refine based on retention rates. And remember: podcasts lose 20-35% of their audience in the first 5 minutes (Riverside), so nail your intro regardless of total episode length.

If you're recording in Glasgow, factor studio time into your planning. A well-produced 30-minute episode beats a sloppy 60-minute ramble every time.

Sources:

Mark Hunter

Mark is the founder of Postable Limited and the co-founder of the Podcast Studio Glasgow. He became a pioneer of podcasting in 2005 and has worked extensively as a podcast producer, digital marketing consultant and content creator.

https://podcaststudioglasgow.com
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How to Prepare for a Podcast Interview (Guest Guide)