If you’ve ever stared at your podcast outline wondering how long is too long? you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever stared at your podcast outline wondering how long is too long? you’re not alone.
“How long should my podcast episode be?” is easily one of the most common questions I get asked. And while I wish I could give you a magic number, the honest answer is… it depends. But before you click away in frustration, stay with me, I’m going to show you how to figure out the right episode length for your podcast, based on real data, not guesswork.
Let’s talk about a little-known but incredibly helpful stat: your consumption rate.
What is podcast consumption rate?
Your consumption rate shows how much of your episode your listeners are actually hearing. It’s a percentage that tells you how far through your episode people are sticking around for.
You won’t find this stat inside your podcast hosting platform, but if you’ve connected your show to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for Creators, you can access it there. Just log in, click on an episode, and look for your average consumption rate.
Here’s a general rule:
- A consumption rate of 70% or higher is good
- If it’s over 100%, your listeners are coming back to re-listen, amazing!
- If it drops below 50%, you might want to tweak your episode format or length
Why this stat is so valuable
Let’s say you regularly publish 40-minute episodes, but your consumption rate is hovering around 50%. That tells you people are switching off at the halfway point. Maybe your content is great, but it’s simply too long for how your audience prefers to listen.
Or maybe your short-form 10-minute episodes are getting 85%+ completion, clearly a format that’s working well.
Knowing your consumption rate allows you to stop second-guessing and start making informed decisions about your episode structure.
How to use consumption rate to improve your podcast
Here are a few simple steps to help you use this metric to your advantage:
- Check your Apple and Spotify dashboards. Look at the consumption rate for several different episodes.
- Compare different lengths or formats. Did a shorter solo episode perform better than a longer interview? Take note.
- Experiment. Try a few shorter or longer episodes and monitor what happens to your stats.
- Stick to a consistent range. If your audience expects 15–20 minute episodes, a surprise 90-minute episode might throw them off.
You don’t have to change your format overnight, but making small adjustments based on real listener behaviour can have a huge impact on your podcast growth.
If you want more support with this, a podcast audit can help you break it all down. I look at your consumption rate and other areas like structure, titles, and promotional strategy to help you grow your show. Get in touch with me here if you’d like to chat about it.
Final thoughts
The ideal podcast episode length is the one that delivers value without wasting your listener’s time. Whether that’s seven minutes or 47 minutes depends on your audience, your content, and what your data tells you.
And remember, your podcast isn’t for everyone. It’s for your ideal listener. Focus on them, not what everyone else is doing.
Want more tips like this?
You can hear more about how to work out your ideal podcast episode length in my latest episode of Podcasting for Business Owners. I cover how to use consumption rates, why consistency matters, and how to know when to switch things up. Click here to listen when you’re ready.