SonodexWhat BPM are techno, house and so on?
The table shows the tempo at which a genre is usually played. Anyone asking which BPM techno has gets the range 120 to 140 BPM from Ableton; hard techno, according to the Digital DJ Pool compilation, is at 145 to 160 BPM. For house, Ableton gives 115 to 130 BPM.
The figures come from the sources linked below the table and should be read as “typical”. They tell you where to look, not what a track is allowed to be.
| Genre | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| House | 115 to 130 BPM | [1] |
| Tech House | 122 to 128 BPM | [2] |
| Techno | 120 to 140 BPM | [1] |
| Hard Techno | 145 to 160 BPM | [2] |
| Trance | 126 to 140 BPM | [2] |
| Drum & Bass | 160 to 180 BPM | [1] |
| Dubstep | 135 to 145 BPM, often felt at half tempo (around 70) | [1], [2] |
| Hip-Hop | 60 to 100 BPM | [1] |
| Afro House | 110 to 125 BPM | [2] |
| Disco | 110 to 130 BPM | [2] |
As of 9 Nov 2026. The sources contradict each other at the edges, and the ranges shift over time. Take them as a guide, not a rule.
Why the values vary
Genres overlap: a fast house track and a slow techno track can run at the same speed. Then there is half tempo. A dubstep track at 140 BPM feels like 70, and a drum & bass track at 174 BPM can be laid over 87 BPM hip-hop. That is exactly why the genre alone is no substitute for the measured value (BPM).
How to use the ranges when mixing
Create a BPM filter per genre or set phase, for example 122 to 126 for the warm-up. If you switch between genres, the easiest way is via half and double tempo or via a break. How to plan a set with a fitting tempo progression is covered under Build a set.
In practice: genre filters in the library
Set up a BPM range as a filter for each genre and check outliers. A techno track at 70 BPM is almost certainly detected at half tempo, a house track at 250 BPM at double. The genre field in the tags and the measured value should match.
Note down which genres you like to mix across half and double tempo. That way you can quickly find bridges between two styles later.
Quellen
- Ableton: Learning Music, Tempo and genre learningmusic.ableton.com (opens in a new window)
- Digital DJ Pool: DJ BPM Guide, Tempo Ranges for Every Genre digitaldjpool.com (opens in a new window)
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What BPM does techno have?
120 to 140 BPM is typical. Hard techno is usually above that, at around 145 to 160 BPM. Individual tracks differ.
What BPM is house?
Usually 115 to 130 BPM. Tech house is often narrower, at 122 to 128 BPM.
Can I mix tracks from different genres?
Yes, if the tempos match or stand in a half-to-double ratio, for example 87 and 174 BPM. Otherwise you mix via a break or a track in between.