If you’re planning to attend a hockey game or watch from home, one of the first questions that pops up is: how long are hockey games really? The answer isn’t as simple as looking at the game clock. Hockey has three periods, stoppages, intermissions, and sometimes overtime or shootouts. What looks like 60 minutes on paper often turns into a 2.5 to 3-hour event in real time.
This complete guide breaks down everything you need to know — from regulation time to overtime rules, commercial breaks, intermissions, and how different leagues use different formats. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to expect when watching hockey at any level.
How Long Is a Regulation Hockey Game?
A standard hockey game has three periods, each lasting 20 minutes. That gives us a total of 60 minutes of regulation time on the clock. The game clock counts only when the puck is in play, which means many stoppages stretch the game longer.
In real time, those 60 minutes rarely add up to an hour. Because the clock stops for icing, penalties, pucks out of play, reviews, and commercial breaks, fans can expect a complete game to last about two and a half hours from start to finish.
Why Hockey Games Take Longer Than 60 Minutes
The clock in hockey stops frequently, which is the biggest reason games last longer than the listed time. Each whistle stops the clock, and depending on the situation, there may be short pauses or long delays.
Typical reasons for clock stoppages include:
- Penalties and infractions
- Icing or offside calls
- Injuries
- TV commercial breaks
- Video reviews
- Fights or scrums after the whistle
Even though the game is technically 60 minutes long, these pauses easily stretch an NHL broadcast to around 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermissions and overtime.
How Long Is Overtime in Hockey?
Overtime rules vary depending on the league, and that’s where hockey gets interesting.
For regular-season NHL games, overtime is:
- 5 minutes long
- 3-on-3 skaters
- Sudden death: first goal wins
If nobody scores, a shootout decides the winner. The shootout adds only a few minutes, but it keeps the action thrilling right to the end.
In playoff hockey, however, overtime completely changes:
- 20-minute periods
- 5-on-5 play
- Sudden death
- Repeat until someone scores
There are no shootouts in the playoffs. Teams keep battling until a goal is scored, leading to marathon games. Some playoff games have lasted five or six overtime periods, stretching to more than 6 hours.
How Long Are Intermissions in Hockey?
Between each period is an intermission. Most professional leagues, including the NHL, use:
- Two intermissions
- 18 minutes each
Intermissions allow teams to rest, ice to be resurfaced, and fans to stretch or grab snacks. Add those 36 minutes to regulation, and you begin to see why a hockey game ends up close to 3 hours long in real time.
Youth and college leagues often use slightly shorter intermissions, while televised events typically stick to the full 18 minutes to allow commercial programming.
How Long Do Shootouts Add to a Game?
A shootout only happens when overtime ends with no winner in the regular season. Each team sends three shooters, and if the score remains tied, it continues until one team scores and the other misses.
A typical shootout lasts around 5 to 10 minutes, so it doesn’t add much time. Even though it’s short, it delivers some of the most dramatic moments in the sport, especially when star players step up to shoot.
How Long Are Hockey Games in Real Time?
To keep things simple, here’s how long a hockey game typically lasts:
- NHL regular season game: 2.5 to 3 hours
- NHL playoff game: 3+ hours (sometimes much longer)
- College hockey: 2.5 to 3 hours
- Youth and amateur hockey: Around 1.5 to 2 hours
Playoff games run longer because they use full 20-minute overtime periods until someone scores. There is no limit to how many overtime periods can be played.
Does the Clock Ever Run Without Stopping?
The hockey clock only runs during active play. If the puck is live and moving, the clock continues to run. When the whistle blows, the clock stops. This makes hockey fast, fluid, and exciting, but it also means games can stretch longer when there are frequent stoppages.
Occasionally, lower-level leagues or youth tournaments may use running time to keep games on schedule, but this is not the case in the NHL, college, or major junior hockey.
How Commercial Breaks Affect Game Length
Televised games include commercial breaks built into each period. Most NHL broadcasts feature:
- Three commercial breaks per period
- Roughly two minutes each
These breaks add another 6 minutes per period to the total duration, excluding delays from reviews or stoppages.
In-person games feel slightly faster because fans don’t see all the commercial content, but the pauses still happen on the ice.
What About Warmups and Pregame Ceremonies?
When attending a game, don’t forget that the event begins long before the puck drops. Teams warm up on the ice for about 15–20 minutes, and there may be anthem performances, introductions, or ceremonial puck drops.
This means if a game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- Puck usually drops around 7:08–7:15 p.m.
- Final buzzer hits somewhere between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m.
If there’s overtime, expect a later finish.
How Long Are Youth and Recreational Hockey Games?
Youth and rec hockey follow different time standards. Periods may be shorter, often:
- 12 to 15 minutes per period
- Running or stop time, depending on age and league
Games are designed to fit into 1–2-hour ice rentals, so organisers try to keep the timing predictable. While shorter than professional games, they still run longer than what’s shown on the scoreboard because of stoppages and intermissions.
Why Playoff Hockey Takes the Longest
Playoff hockey is legendary for its intensity, physicality, and marathon overtimes. Since there are no shootouts in the playoffs, teams play full 20-minute periods until someone scores. There is no clock limit, and some of the longest games in history have gone five or more extra periods.
The atmosphere changes too: lines shorten, minutes increase, and every shift feels like a potential turning point. Fans and players alike often describe overtime playoff hockey as some of the most thrilling moments in sports.
Quick Summary of Hockey Game Duration
Here’s an easy breakdown:
- Regulation game length: 60 minutes of play
- Intermissions: Two breaks, 18 minutes each
- Real-time duration: Typically 2.5 to 3 hours
- Overtime (regular season): 5 minutes, then shootout if needed
- Overtime (playoffs): Full 20-minute periods until someone scores
No matter where it’s played, hockey is fast, intense, and sometimes unpredictable — which is part of what makes the sport so exciting.
Final Thoughts: Expect to Spend a Few Hours Watching
So, how long are hockey games? The scoreboard says 60 minutes, but the whole experience lasts much longer. With intermissions, stoppages, warmups, and possible overtime, most games run closer to 2.5 to 3 hours in real time.
Whether you’re watching in an arena or following from your couch, knowing what to expect helps you plan better. Hockey is high-paced, physical, emotional, and unforgettable, and understanding how long the game lasts is just part of the overall experience.
