MM:SS or H:MM:SS
Quick Add Common Sections

Formatted Timestamps

Add timestamps above to generate formatted output.

What is the Episode Timestamp Generator?

Chapter timestamps help listeners navigate long episodes, dramatically improve the listening experience, and are a key factor in episode engagement metrics. YouTube uses timestamps to create a visual chapter bar in the video progress bar (with minimum 3 chapters). Spotify supports chapter markers through your hosting platform. Apple Podcasts displays chapters as a navigation menu in the player. This tool lets you build, organize, and export timestamps in the correct format for each platform with one click.

Add timestamps in any order โ€” the sort button arranges them chronologically. Quick-add buttons handle common podcast sections (Intro, Guest Introduction, Key Insights, Outro). Export in YouTube description format, formatted show notes, Spotify-ready format, or a plain list for pasting anywhere.

Platform Requirements

  • YouTube: First timestamp must be 0:00. Minimum 3 chapters needed to activate chapter bar. Format: "0:00 Intro"
  • Spotify: Chapters added through your hosting platform's dashboard (Buzzsprout, Transistor, etc.) using HH:MM:SS format
  • Apple Podcasts: Chapters embedded in MP3 ID3 tags by your hosting platform โ€” check your host's chapter feature
  • Show Notes: Any readable format works โ€” MM:SS or HH:MM:SS with descriptive section names

Why Use tools999.com?

100% free, no account required. Your episode data never leaves your browser. Built for podcasters who want properly formatted timestamps for every platform without manual text wrangling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter markers let listeners navigate to specific sections. Spotify supports chapters through hosting platforms. Apple Podcasts supports chapters in MP3 metadata. YouTube creates a chapter bar when you list timestamps starting with 0:00 in the video description.

YouTube uses "0:00 Title" format, requiring 0:00 as the first timestamp. For episodes under 1 hour, MM:SS is sufficient. For longer episodes, use HH:MM:SS. Always list timestamps in chronological order.

For a 30โ€“60 minute episode, aim for 5โ€“10 chapter markers. Add a timestamp for every major topic shift or key insight. Minimum 3 chapters for YouTube to activate the chapter bar in the progress bar.

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