How long should podcast episodes be?

[SocialBee]

I'm planning my podcast format and can't decide on episode length. I've seen successful podcasts that are 20 minutes and others that are 2+ hours

What's the ideal podcast episode length? and does it vary by niche?

[LenaVlogs]

My episodes are 20-25 minutes and that's perfect for my audience

why shorter episodes work:
- people can finish them during their commute
- higher completion rate (important for algorithms)
- easier to stay focused and cut fluff
- faster to edit and produce
- listeners are more likely to listen to multiple episodes

my listener data:
- 68% of people finish my 20-minute episodes
- when i did a 45-minute episode, only 38% finished it

shorter episodes also let you release more frequently without burning out. i release 3 episodes per week at 20 minutes each. that's way more manageable than 1-hour episodes

ideal length by podcast type:
- solo shows: 15-30 minutes
- interview shows: 30-45 minutes
- deep dive/educational: 30-60 minutes
- conversational/entertainment: can be longer

but honestly the best length is "as long as it needs to be to deliver value, and not one minute longer"

if you can say it in 20 minutes, don't stretch it to 40. respect your audience's time

[RisingAdmin]

My episodes are 60-90 minutes and my audience loves the depth

The "shorter is better" advice assumes people have short attention spans. podcast listeners are different from social media scrollers. They're choosing to dedicate time to long form content

advantages of longer episodes:
- can go deep on topics instead of surface level
- guests can tell full stories instead of soundbites
- builds stronger connection with audience
- less pressure to constantly produce (i do one per week)

my completion rate is 52% on 75-minute episodes. yes it's lower than short episodes but the people who DO finish are super engaged

i've heard from listeners that they specifically love long episodes because:
- they have long commutes
- they listen while working
- they want depth not quick tips

Also longer episodes have better monetization. easier to fit in multiple ad spots naturally

match your length to your content type:
- tactical tips and advice: shorter
- storytelling and interviews: longer
- educational deep dives: longer

don't artificially limit yourself to 20 minutes if your content deserves more time. but also don't stretch content to hit an arbitrary length