Sherlock Episode Runtime Comparison (Minutes)
How long are Sherlock BBC television episodes exactly? Compare 15 runtimes from BBC episode guides, from 7 minute mini short to 90 minute film format cases.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Many Happy Returns mini Shortest here. | 7 minutes | 2013 Christmas mini episode | BBC iPlayer mini: 7 min |
| Unaired 60 min pilot Reshot after rejection. | 60 minutes | 2009 Coky Giedroyc pilot | Wikipedia series page: 60 min pilot |
| A Study in Pink Suicide cabbie case. | 88 minutes | S1E1 Moffat premiere | Wikipedia episode page: 88 min |
| The Blind Banker Standard slot. | 90 minutes | S1E2 Thompson cipher | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| The Great Game Pool showdown. | 90 minutes | S1E3 Gatiss bomber | BBC Great Game page: 90 min |
| Scandal in Belgravia Woman introduction. | 90 minutes | S2E1 Irene Adler | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Hounds of Baskerville Lab fear gas. | 90 minutes | S2E2 Dartmoor hound | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Reichenbach Fall Moriarty procès. | 90 minutes | S2E3 rooftop fall | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Empty Hearse Two years explanation. | 90 minutes | S3E1 return | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Sign of Three Wedding stabbing. | 90 minutes | S3E2 best man speech | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| His Last Vow Mind palace vaults. | 90 minutes | S3E3 Magnussen | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Abominable Bride Mind palace case. | 90 minutes | Victorian special 2016 | BBC special page: 90 min format |
| Six Thatchers Mary past case. | 90 minutes | S4E1 Thatcher busts | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Lying Detective Hospital confession. | 90 minutes | S4E2 Culverton Smith | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
| Final Problem Series close. | 90 minutes | S4E3 Eurus island | BBC episode guide: 90 min format |
About this converter
Sherlock episodes run film length with two small exceptions. Thirteen broadcast entries run the 90 minute format: all of series 1 to 4 plus the Abominable Bride Victorian special. A Study in Pink lists 88 minutes on its episode page against the 90 slot. The unaired 2009 pilot runs 60 minutes after the BBC rejected it and ordered three 90 minute films. Many Happy Returns at 7 minutes is the Christmas mini bridge into series 3. Thirteen 90s plus a 60 and a 7 give 15 entries. Times follow BBC episode guides with Wikipedia running time boxes and PBS streaming clocks.
How to use it
Pick two entries and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. One box holds a count of the first entry, one holds the matching count of the second, one holds the time in minutes. Try 1 Great Game against minis to see standard against short.
Runtimes are content minutes in the 90 minute broadcast format. The 60 minute pilot never aired. Audio commentaries stay out. PBS clocks match.
FAQ
How long is a normal episode?
90 minutes in format, about 88 content.
How many episodes are there?
13 broadcast plus a special, pilot and mini.
What is the shortest?
Many Happy Returns mini at 7 minutes.
Why was the pilot reshot?
The BBC passed on the 60 minute version and ordered 90s.
Sources
- BBC Sherlock episode guides (series 1 to 4 plus Abominable Bride 90 min format)
- Wikipedia Sherlock series and A Study in Pink pages (60 min pilot, 88 min premiere)
- PBS Masterpiece streaming clocks (89:47 Study in Pink cross-check)
Last verified: 2026-10-05 · 15 entries
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