What BPM is Electro?

Electro has a median tempo of 132 BPM. Half of all electro sits between 128 and 138 BPM, measured across 3,916 analysed tracks. The genre's editorial range is 120–130 BPM; our catalog sits a little above it.

Other · 1980s — present

Measured 13 August 2026 from 3,916 electro tracks in our catalog. 647 tempo outliers removed by a Tukey IQR fence. 225 tracks were detected at half tempo and corrected to their written BPM. 852 tracks (21.8%) carry a tempo our detectors flagged for review; they are included in these figures.

Method: how we correct half-time BPM detection — why fast genres get stored at half speed, and the rule we apply before publishing a median.

Median BPM

132

Middle half

128–138

9 in 10

122–142

Mean

132

Tracks measured

3,916

BPM distribution

3,916 tracks · median 132 BPM · most of the catalog sits between 128 and 138 BPM · 647 outliers removed by IQR filter.

Median Middle half (Q1–Q3) Edge of range

How tightly does electro hold its tempo?

Half of all electro sits inside a 10 BPM window, 128 to 138. Widen to nine tracks in ten and the band runs 122–142 BPM.

10th percentile 122 · lower quartile 128 · median 132 · upper quartile 138 · 90th percentile 142 BPM

Why this tempo?

Electro's 120–130 BPM sweet spot emerged from the TR-808's native timing and hip-hop's breakbeat architecture. The 808's kick patterns—syncopated, synth-driven, and built for half-time swing—sit naturally at this tempo, where 16th-note hi-hat rolls feel crisp without sounding frantic. This range bridges the gap between house music's dancefloor momentum and hip-hop's rhythmic complexity, allowing producers to layer breakbeats and robotic percussion without sacrificing groove. The tempo also accommodates the genre's signature kick-snare interplay and sidechain compression, where the 808 punch needs breathing room to define the mix. Clubs and producers locked into this zone because it's fast enough for sustained energy but slow enough to showcase the mechanical precision that defines electro's aesthetic.

Where your track fits

Three reference points along the BPM axis for electro, with what the position implies about the track.

128BPM

Groovy side

Lower quartile — patient builds, deeper grooves, long blends.

132BPM

Genre centre

Median — what most tracks in the catalog actually sound like.

138BPM

Peak-time edge

Upper quartile — pushes the floor, bridges into faster neighbours.

Where electro sits on the tempo axis

Median BPM of electro compared to neighbouring genres in the same family. Closer medians mean easier cross-genre transitions.

9296100104108112116120124128132136

Popular electro tracks at the median BPM

Catalog tracks within ±2 BPM of 132, sorted by popularity.

Top electro artists in the catalog

Names you’ll meet often when building electro sets.

Dominant Camelot keys

Where electro producers cluster harmonically. 61% minor · 39% major

8A is the most crowded key in electro: 8.5% of the 3,916 tracks we have a key for, 5.3× the rarest key in the genre (3B, 1.6%).

Producing electro — tempo notes

  • Anchor your 808 kick at 124 BPM with a 16th-note decay; this tempo lets the sub-bass bloom without muddying breakbeat snares layered on the grid.
  • Use swing quantization between 50–55% on hi-hats and percussion to prevent the robotic feel from collapsing into rigidity; electro thrives on tension between mechanical and human timing.
  • Set sidechain compression to duck for 200–300 ms on every 808 hit; at 126 BPM, this creates the pumping effect that defines the genre without losing definition.

Mixing electro sets — tempo notes

  • When blending electro tracks, match at 125 BPM and use 8-bar phrase boundaries to avoid breakbeat collision; the syncopated kicks need clean handoffs.
  • EQ out 300–500 Hz on incoming tracks before the mix to prevent the 808 fundamental from clashing; electro's power lives in sub and mid-high clarity.
  • Extend your blend length to 16 bars minimum when mixing breakbeat-heavy tracks; electro's complexity demands time for the listener to lock into the new pattern.
All 132 BPM tracks EDM genre BPM chart BPM for every genre

FAQ

What BPM is Electro?
Electro has a median tempo of 132 BPM. Half of all electro sits between 128 and 138 BPM, measured across 3,916 analysed tracks. The genre's editorial range is 120–130 BPM; our catalog sits a little above it.
Has electro's BPM changed over time?
We don't have enough year-stamped catalog tracks yet to draw a confident evolution curve. The current median is 132 BPM.
At what BPM should I produce a electro track?
Anchor your kick at 132 BPM for the genre centre. 138 BPM is the upper-quartile edge if you're producing for peak-time. Below 128 BPM you're outside the middle half of what we measured.
What Camelot keys are most common in electro?
The dominant Camelot keys in our electro catalog are 8A, 9A, 5A. 61% of tracks are in minor keys (A); 39% major (B). 8A is the most crowded key in electro: 8.5% of the 3,916 tracks we have a key for, 5.3× the rarest key in the genre (3B, 1.6%).

Plan a chemistry-scored set