Reviewed November 2026. Formulas are shown above the guide. Report an error or request a calculator.
Takt time in one sentence
Takt time is the available production time divided by customer demand: the rhythm at which one finished unit must leave the line. If demand is 1,200 units and you have 860 minutes, a unit has to come off the line every 43 seconds.
It turns a sales forecast into a design target for the line. Every station's cycle time must be at or below takt, and the total work content divided by takt tells you the minimum number of stations or operators.
Worked example
Two 8-hour shifts with 50 minutes of breaks each give 860 minutes, or 51,600 seconds, a day. Demand is 1,200 units and each unit needs 210 seconds of work in total.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Takt time (51,600 ÷ 1,200) | 43.0 s |
| Stations needed (210 ÷ 43, rounded up) | 5 |
| Line balance efficiency (210 ÷ (5 × 43)) | 97.7% |
| Max output with a 45 s bottleneck | 1,146 / day |
The bottleneck station is 2 seconds slower than takt, so the line falls 54 units a day short. Moving a few seconds of work to another station fixes it without overtime.
Using takt time well
- Recalculate takt when demand changes; a fixed line speed that ignores demand builds inventory or misses orders.
- Leave headroom. Running every station at exactly takt means any small stop causes a shortfall, so many lines plan for 85–95% of takt.
- Takt time is a demand figure. It does not change when the machine gets faster; cycle time does.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate takt time?
Divide the net available production time by customer demand for the same period. Subtract breaks and planned stops from the shift time first.
What is the difference between takt time and cycle time?
Takt time is the pace demand requires. Cycle time is how long a station or process actually takes. Cycle time must be at or below takt.
How many operators do I need?
Total work content per unit divided by takt time, rounded up. Balance the work so no station exceeds takt.
What is line balance efficiency?
Total work content divided by the number of stations times takt. 100% means no station waits; 85–95% is a realistic target.