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A free, open-source Blender extension that predicts your render time, tracks the real render live with an accurate ETA, and logs every render so you can finally see what your settings actually cost.
What it does
Pre-render estimate
One click runs a quiet background test and predicts your full render time, per frame and total. Works with Cycles, EEVEE and adaptive sampling.
Live render tracking
While the real render runs, a live panel (and optional status bar readout) shows elapsed time and an ETA that counts down based on your actual frame times.
Auto-logged render history
Every render is logged automatically: engine, resolution, samples, device and duration. Animations show total frames plus average, fastest and slowest frame. If you ran an estimate first, the log shows how accurate it was.
CSV export
Export your whole history to CSV, including per-frame timings.
Who it's for
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Animators: know if your frames fit an afternoon or need overnight
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Freelancers: give clients a real, tested number
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Settings tuners: compare logged numbers instead of memory
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Students and hobbyists: learn how samples, resolution and engine affect render time
Honest notes
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Accuracy varies by scene. In testing, the estimate landed between about 4% and 25% off, so treat it as an estimate, not a promise.
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The pre-render estimate briefly pauses Blender while its test passes run (a Blender API limitation). You always get a confirm dialog first. The live tracker never freezes anything.
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Works offline. No network calls, no account, no registration.
Compatibility
Blender 4.2+ (tested on Blender 5.2) | Windows, macOS, Linux
License: GNU GPL v3 | Source: github.com/NvxStrikes/Render_Time_Estimator
Where to find it: Render Properties > Render Insights
Text, license + AI disclosure
Licensed GPL v3. Portions of the code were written with AI coding tools from a detailed human-authored specification covering architecture, logic, UI and features. All code was reviewed, tested and approved by the developer. Some promotional images were AI-assisted; the thumbnail and screenshots are original renders and captures.
