8-count calculator

How to work it out yourself

Multiply the BPM by the length of the music in seconds, then divide by 60. That gives you the number of beats. Divide the beats by 8 to get the number of 8-counts.

Example: a 2:30 routine is 150 seconds. At 144 BPM, that is 144 × 150 ÷ 60 = 360 beats, and 360 ÷ 8 = 45 8-counts.

How long is one 8-count?

Divide 480 by the BPM. At 120 BPM one 8-count lasts 4 seconds. At 147 BPM it lasts about 3.3 seconds. At 100 BPM it lasts 4.8 seconds.

How many 8-counts in a routine: chart

Full 8-counts for common routine lengths. Counts left over are shown after the plus sign.

Cheer music producers often make competition mixes at about 145 to 150 BPM. At 147 BPM a 2:30 mix has 45 full 8-counts and 7 counts more, so plan for 46 rows. Check the BPM of your own mix: it can change from one section to the next.

Why your sheet may not match the math

• An intro before count 1. Many songs start with a few beats before the first 1. Those beats are not a full 8-count.
• Tempo changes. A mix can slow down for a stunt section or speed up for tumbling. The math uses one BPM for the whole song.
• Cuts in a mix. Where two songs are joined, a set can have 4 or 12 counts instead of 8.
• Half time or double time. If the music feels twice as fast as the BPM you entered, you may be counting every half beat. Try half the BPM.

Not sure of the BPM? Use the BPM finder. New to counting? Read how to count music for dance.