Takt Time Calculator
Enter shift length, breaks, shifts and daily demand.
Your numbers
Your results
Takt time (seconds per unit)
Takt time (seconds per unit)
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Available time per day (min)
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Units per hour needed
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Operators needed (work content ÷ takt)
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Takt Time Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Takt Time Calculator works
Takt time = available production time ÷ customer demand. It is the heartbeat of a lean line: each station should finish a unit within the takt time.
Divide total work content by takt time to find the minimum number of operators or stations to balance the line.
The formula
Takt = available time ÷ demand
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Shift length (min) | 480 |
|---|---|
| Breaks per shift (min) | 50 |
| Shifts per day | 2 |
| Customer demand per day (units) | 860 |
| Total work content per unit (seconds) | 300 |
- 2 shifts of 430 working minutes = 860 minutes a day.
- For 860 units the takt time is 60.0 s; 300 s of work needs 5 operators.
Result:
| Takt time (seconds per unit) | 60.0 |
|---|---|
| Available time per day (min) | 860 |
| Units per hour needed | 60.0 |
| Operators needed (work content ÷ takt) | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Takt time or cycle time?
Takt is set by demand; cycle time is how long the process actually takes. Cycle time must be at or below takt.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.