BPM To Hz
A tempo of 120 BPM is exactly 2 Hz, which is two beats every second.
Quick answer: Divide the BPM by 60. For example, 120 BPM is 2 Hz, 1,200 BPM is 20 Hz and 12,000 BPM is 200 Hz.
The BPM to Hz formula
Hertz equal beats per minute divided by 60.
There are 60 seconds in a minute.
Take 120 BPM. 120 × 0.01666667 gives 2 Hz.
Take 1,200 BPM. 1,200 × 0.01666667 gives 20 Hz.
Beats per second
Hertz means cycles per second. A tempo in beats per minute is divided by 60 to count the beats in one second (Wikipedia: Frequency).
For example, a heart beating 120 times per minute has a frequency of 2 Hz (Wikipedia: Frequency). The same sum works for a tempo of 120 BPM.
How to convert BPM to Hz step by step
- Read the tempo in beats per minute.
- Divide it by 60.
- Write Hz after the answer.
- Read millihertz in the last column if you need it.
Example 1: 120 BPM
- Start with 120 BPM.
- 120 × 0.01666667 = 2.
- The frequency is 2 Hz.
120 BPM = 2 Hz
Example 2: 1,200 BPM
- Start with 1,200 BPM.
- 1,200 × 0.01666667 = 20.
- The frequency is 20 Hz.
1,200 BPM = 20 Hz
Example 3: 12,000 BPM
- Start with 12,000 BPM.
- 12,000 × 0.01666667 = 200.
- The frequency is 200 Hz.
12,000 BPM = 200 Hz
Example 4: 600 BPM
- Start with 600 BPM.
- 600 × 0.01666667 = 10.
- The frequency is 10 Hz.
600 BPM = 10 Hz
Example 5: 6,000 BPM
- Start with 6,000 BPM.
- 6,000 × 0.01666667 = 100.
- The frequency is 100 Hz.
6,000 BPM = 100 Hz
Example 6: 240 BPM
- Start with 240 BPM.
- 240 × 0.01666667 = 4.
- The frequency is 4 Hz.
240 BPM = 4 Hz
Round only at the end. Rounding in the middle of a sum adds small errors that grow.
BPM to Hz conversion table
| Beats per minute (BPM) | Hertz (Hz) | Millihertz (mHz) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 BPM | 0.2 Hz | 200 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 30 BPM | 0.5 Hz | 500 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 60 BPM | 1 Hz | 1,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 120 BPM | 2 Hz | 2,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 240 BPM | 4 Hz | 4,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 600 BPM | 10 Hz | 10,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 1,200 BPM | 20 Hz | 20,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 2,400 BPM | 40 Hz | 40,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 6,000 BPM | 100 Hz | 100,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 12,000 BPM | 200 Hz | 200,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 30,000 BPM | 500 Hz | 500,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
| 60,000 BPM | 1,000 Hz | 1,000,000 Millihertz (mHz) |
The highlighted row is the default of the calculator. The last column gives Millihertz (mHz).
A quick mental shortcut for BPM to Hz
Divide by 60. 90 BPM is 1.5 Hz.
At 60 BPM the beat is exactly 1 Hz.
Setting an LFO to the tempo
An LFO that completes one cycle per beat runs at the tempo divided by 60 in hertz. At 120 BPM that is 2 Hz.
For one cycle per bar of four beats, divide the answer by 4. At 120 BPM that is 0.5 Hz.
Faster note values
For eighth notes, double the beat rate. At 120 BPM that is 4 Hz. For sixteenth notes, multiply by 4, which gives 8 Hz at 120 BPM.
Slower rates divide in the same way.
Time per beat
The time for one beat is the reciprocal of the beat rate. At 2 Hz it is 0.5 seconds, which is 500 ms (Zoe Blade notebook: BPM to milliseconds).
The BPM to ms page works this out for any tempo.
Quick conversion answers
| Conversion | Result |
|---|---|
| 120 BPM | 2 Hz |
| 1,200 BPM | 20 Hz |
| 12,000 BPM | 200 Hz |
| 120,000 BPM | 2,000 Hz |
Where this conversion is used
Producers set LFO and tremolo rates to a track tempo.
Students turn musical tempo into a physical frequency.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Multiplying by 60. You divide by 60 to get hertz.
- Using ms instead of Hz. A time per beat is a different quantity.
- Forgetting the note value. The answer is for one beat.
- Mixing BPM with bits per minute. This page is for tempo.
Related converters
More values at a glance
2.4 BPM is 0.04 Hz. 36 BPM is 0.6 Hz. 90 BPM is 1.5 Hz.
180 BPM is 3 Hz. 360 BPM is 6 Hz. 480 BPM is 8 Hz.
1,800 BPM is 30 Hz. 3,000 BPM is 50 Hz. 24,000 BPM is 400 Hz.
Common tempos
40 BPM is 0.6667 Hz. 60 BPM is 1 Hz. 72 BPM is 1.2 Hz.
90 BPM is 1.5 Hz. 100 BPM is 1.667 Hz. 128 BPM is 2.133 Hz.
140 BPM is 2.333 Hz. 150 BPM is 2.5 Hz. 174 BPM is 2.9 Hz.
More worked examples
A tempo of 72 BPM is 1.2 Hz. A tempo of 100 BPM is about 1.6667 Hz, and a tempo of 128 BPM is about 2.1333 Hz.
A tempo of 140 BPM is about 2.3333 Hz, and a tempo of 150 BPM is exactly 2.5 Hz. A tempo of 180 BPM is exactly 3 Hz.
Slow and fast tempos
A slow tempo of 40 BPM is about 0.6667 Hz, which is about 666.67 mHz. A fast tempo of 200 BPM is about 3.3333 Hz.
So most tempos sit between about 0.5 Hz and 4 Hz.
Checking your answer
Multiply the hertz by 60 and you should get the BPM you started with. For 2.5 Hz, the product is 150.
If it is not, the divide step slipped.
Two tempos side by side
Compare 120 BPM and 150 BPM. The first is exactly 2 Hz and the second is exactly 2.5 Hz, a gap of 0.5 Hz.
Each extra 60 BPM adds exactly 1 Hz, so 180 BPM is 3 Hz and 240 BPM is 4 Hz.
Tempo and LFO speed
A faster tempo gives a faster LFO when the LFO is synced to the beat. At 90 BPM a one beat LFO runs at 1.5 Hz.
At 174 BPM the same LFO runs at 2.9 Hz, which is nearly twice as fast.
Frequently asked questions
How many Hertz is 1 BPM?
1 BPM is 0.01666667 Hz.
How many Hertz is 1,200 BPM?
1,200 BPM is 20 Hz.
How many Beats per minute is 1 Hz?
1 Hz is 60 BPM.
How do I convert BPM to Hz?
Divide the BPM by 60.
What is 120 BPM in Hz?
2 Hz.
What is 60 BPM in Hz?
1 Hz.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Frequency (en.wikipedia.org)
- Zoe Blade notebook: BPM to milliseconds (notebook.zoeblade.com)
