Genre Guides

What BPM Is Techno?

Techno typically ranges from 130–150 BPM, with most tracks sitting around 138 BPM. The range varies dramatically by sub-genre — dub techno can be as slow as 120, while hard techno pushes past 160.

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Techno BPM Reference

Techno: 130-150 BPM, typical 138 BPM.

Genre	BPM Range	Typical BPM	Notes
Techno	130-150	138	Originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. Driven by repetitive, mechanical rhythms and futuristic synth textures. Designed for dark, immersive dancefloors.
Ambient Techno	100-130	120	Atmospheric techno that prioritizes texture and mood over drive. Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works), B12, Biosphere, The Black Dog.
Bleep Techno	120-130	125	Early-90s UK Yorkshire techno — Warp Records' formative sound. Sub-bass, melodic bleeps, and Detroit influence. LFO, Nightmares on Wax, Sweet Exorcist.
Melodic Techno	122-132	126	Emotional melodies over driving techno rhythms. Popularized by Tale Of Us, Afterlife label, and festival main stages. Maceo Plex, Massano, Anyma.
Dub Techno	120-135	128	Combines techno with dub reggae techniques — heavy reverb, delay chains, and dubby chord stabs create a meditative, spacious sound. Basic Channel, Rhythm & Sound, DeepChord.
Minimal Techno	125-135	130	Stripped to essentials — sparse arrangements, subtle percussion, and hypnotic repetition. Less is more. Plastikman, Robert Hood, Ricardo Villalobos.
Broken Techno	125-138	130	Techno built on broken beats and irregular kick patterns instead of strict 4/4. Bruce, Batu, Pessimist, Livity Sound territory. UK bass-meets-techno.
Tribal Techno	130-138	134	Drum-heavy techno with tribal percussion patterns and global drum influences. Adam Beyer's early Drumcode, Joel Mull, Marco Carola territory.
Detroit Techno	128-140	135	The original techno sound. Melodic, soulful, and forward-looking — influenced by Kraftwerk, funk, and sci-fi. Belleville Three: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson.
Birmingham Techno	130-142	135	Dark, mechanical UK techno school — Surgeon, Regis, British Murder Boys, Female. Downwards label sound built on dystopian repetition.
Peak Time Techno	132-140	135	Beatport's catch-all for festival-ready, dancefloor-focused techno — Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer territory. Driving but melodic enough for big rooms.
Raw Techno	130-142	135	Stripped, lo-fi techno with raw analog warmth. Berghain-aligned but drier — Answer Code Request, Kobosil, Fadi Mohem.
Hypnotic Techno	130-142	135	Long, looping, trance-inducing techno built on subtle evolution. Donato Dozzy, Voices From The Lake, early Nina Kraviz Trip releases.
Acid Techno	130-145	138	Merges techno's drive with the squelchy TB-303 acid sound. Intense, psychedelic, and rave-oriented. Stay Up Forever, Liberator DJs.
Industrial Techno	135-150	142	Raw, abrasive, and uncompromising. Distorted kicks, metallic textures, and relentless intensity. Perc, Ancient Methods, Blawan.
Hard Techno	145-160	150	Faster, harder, louder. Pounding kicks, screeching synths, and aggressive energy for peak-time dancefloors. SPFDJ, Sara Landry, Hector Oaks.
Schranz	145-160	150	German hard techno offshoot known for hammering, distorted kicks and minimal melodic content. Chris Liebing's Frankfurt sound, late-90s Cocoon era.

vibesdj.io/dj-tools - BPM ranges are practical DJ references, not strict genre boundaries.

Techno

130–150BPM

138

90170

Originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. Driven by repetitive, mechanical rhythms and futuristic synth textures. Designed for dark, immersive dancefloors.

Repetitive rhythmsMechanical feelDark atmosphereFuturistic synths

Sub-genre BPM landscape

scale: 90–170 BPM

Ambient Techno100–130

Bleep Techno120–130

Melodic Techno122–132

Dub Techno120–135

Minimal Techno125–135

Broken Techno125–138

Tribal Techno130–138

Detroit Techno128–140

Birmingham Techno130–142

Peak Time Techno132–140

Raw Techno130–142

Hypnotic Techno130–142

Acid Techno130–145

Industrial Techno135–150

Hard Techno145–160

Schranz145–160

Techno sub-genres

Detroit Techno

128–140

The original techno sound. Melodic, soulful, and forward-looking — influenced by Kraftwerk, funk, and sci-fi. Belleville Three: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson.

Melodic synthsSoulful undertonesFuturistic themesFunk influence

Minimal Techno

125–135

Stripped to essentials — sparse arrangements, subtle percussion, and hypnotic repetition. Less is more. Plastikman, Robert Hood, Ricardo Villalobos.

Sparse arrangementsSubtle variationHypnotic loopsClick percussion

Industrial Techno

135–150

Raw, abrasive, and uncompromising. Distorted kicks, metallic textures, and relentless intensity. Perc, Ancient Methods, Blawan.

Distorted kicksMetallic texturesNoise elementsRelentless energy

Acid Techno

130–145

Merges techno's drive with the squelchy TB-303 acid sound. Intense, psychedelic, and rave-oriented. Stay Up Forever, Liberator DJs.

TB-303 acid linesPsychedelic texturesRave energyDriving rhythm

Dub Techno

120–135

Combines techno with dub reggae techniques — heavy reverb, delay chains, and dubby chord stabs create a meditative, spacious sound. Basic Channel, Rhythm & Sound, DeepChord.

Heavy reverbDelay chainsDubby chordsMeditative feel

Hard Techno

145–160

Faster, harder, louder. Pounding kicks, screeching synths, and aggressive energy for peak-time dancefloors. SPFDJ, Sara Landry, Hector Oaks.

Pounding kicksScreeching synthsHigh energyAggressive textures

Schranz

145–160

German hard techno offshoot known for hammering, distorted kicks and minimal melodic content. Chris Liebing's Frankfurt sound, late-90s Cocoon era.

Hammering kicksHeavy distortionTool-track structureGerman peak-time

Birmingham Techno

130–142

Dark, mechanical UK techno school — Surgeon, Regis, British Murder Boys, Female. Downwards label sound built on dystopian repetition.

Mechanical feelDystopian moodStripped percussionDownwards aesthetic

Peak Time Techno

132–140

Beatport's catch-all for festival-ready, dancefloor-focused techno — Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer territory. Driving but melodic enough for big rooms.

Driving energyFestival mainstageBig-room mixBeatport top-100

Raw Techno

130–142

Stripped, lo-fi techno with raw analog warmth. Berghain-aligned but drier — Answer Code Request, Kobosil, Fadi Mohem.

Lo-fi warmthStripped arrangementAnalog gritBerlin aesthetic

Hypnotic Techno

130–142

Long, looping, trance-inducing techno built on subtle evolution. Donato Dozzy, Voices From The Lake, early Nina Kraviz Trip releases.

Long evolutionTrance-inducing loopsSubtle modulationDeep listening

Bleep Techno

120–130

Early-90s UK Yorkshire techno — Warp Records' formative sound. Sub-bass, melodic bleeps, and Detroit influence. LFO, Nightmares on Wax, Sweet Exorcist.

Sub-bassMelodic bleepsWarp aestheticYorkshire roots

Tribal Techno

130–138

Drum-heavy techno with tribal percussion patterns and global drum influences. Adam Beyer's early Drumcode, Joel Mull, Marco Carola territory.

Tribal percussionDrum-ledHypnotic groovePolyrhythms

Ambient Techno

100–130

Atmospheric techno that prioritizes texture and mood over drive. Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works), B12, Biosphere, The Black Dog.

Atmospheric texturesReduced kickMood-ledDeep listening

Broken Techno

125–138

Techno built on broken beats and irregular kick patterns instead of strict 4/4. Bruce, Batu, Pessimist, Livity Sound territory. UK bass-meets-techno.

Broken kick patternsUK bass influenceIrregular drumsPolyrhythmic

Melodic Techno

122–132

Emotional melodies over driving techno rhythms. Popularized by Tale Of Us, Afterlife label, and festival main stages. Maceo Plex, Massano, Anyma.

Emotional melodiesAtmospheric padsDriving rhythmCinematic builds

What BPM Is Techno?

Techno ranges from 130–150 BPM, with most tracks at 135–138 BPM. Dub and melodic techno sit at the slow end (120–132 BPM), peak-time techno runs 135–145 BPM, and industrial and hard techno push past 145–160 BPM. Detroit techno, the genre's origin, settled around 130–140 BPM.

Why Is Techno Typically 130 BPM?

Techno emerged from Detroit in the mid-1980s, pioneered by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson — collectively known as the Belleville Three. Early Detroit techno drew from Kraftwerk's electronic precision, P-Funk's groove, and Italo disco's futurism, settling around 130–140 BPM.

When techno crossed the Atlantic to Europe in the late 80s and early 90s, it fractured into faster, harder variants. Industrial techno and gabber pushed tempos above 150 BPM, while Berlin's club scene (centered around Tresor and Berghain) developed a more hypnotic, mid-tempo strain at 130–138 BPM that became the template for modern techno.

The 2020s saw two divergent trends: melodic techno (Afterlife, Cercle sets) brought tempos down to 122–132 BPM with emotional, cinematic production, while hard techno and industrial rave sounds surged in popularity, pushing tempos back above 145 BPM. The result is the widest BPM range in techno's history.

Mixing Tips for Techno

Techno sets often build in BPM over the night — start with dub/melodic techno (122–132) and build toward peak-time (135–145)
Longer blends work well in techno — 2-4 minute transitions let you gradually shift the energy
Use EQ and filter sweeps for transitions instead of relying purely on tempo matching
When jumping between sub-genres (e.g., minimal to industrial), use a bridging track in between rather than a direct jump
Pair harmonically with the Camelot wheel; plan your set length with the DJ set time calculator; verify an unknown track's tempo with the BPM tapper

Organize your DJ library visually.

Tag tracks by vibe. See everything at once. Export to any DJ software.

Discover Vibes

A visual system for organizing your DJ library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most techno tracks fall between 130-140 BPM, with 135-138 BPM being the most common range for mainstream techno. However, the genre spans a wide range from 120 BPM (dub techno) to 160 BPM (hard techno).

Minimal techno typically ranges from 125-135 BPM. The slower tempo leaves more space for subtle rhythmic details and hypnotic repetition that define the sub-genre.

Hard techno runs fast, typically 145-160 BPM. The high tempo combined with aggressive sound design creates the intense, physical experience the sub-genre is known for.

Yes, especially in the 126-132 BPM overlap zone. Tech house (124-128 BPM) bridges the two genres naturally. Melodic techno (122-132 BPM) and dub techno (120-135 BPM) also sit comfortably near house tempos.

Peak time techno, the high-energy style dominating festival main stages and club peak hours, typically ranges from 135-145 BPM. Artists like Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, and Adam Beyer often play in this range.

Hard techno is the fastest mainstream techno sub-genre at 145-160 BPM. Industrial and gabber variants can push even further, occasionally exceeding 180 BPM, though these are sometimes classified as separate genres.

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What BPM Is Techno?

Share on

Techno BPM Reference

Techno: 130-150 BPM, typical 138 BPM.

Genre	BPM Range	Typical BPM	Notes
Techno	130-150	138	Originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. Driven by repetitive, mechanical rhythms and futuristic synth textures. Designed for dark, immersive dancefloors.
Ambient Techno	100-130	120	Atmospheric techno that prioritizes texture and mood over drive. Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works), B12, Biosphere, The Black Dog.
Bleep Techno	120-130	125	Early-90s UK Yorkshire techno — Warp Records' formative sound. Sub-bass, melodic bleeps, and Detroit influence. LFO, Nightmares on Wax, Sweet Exorcist.
Melodic Techno	122-132	126	Emotional melodies over driving techno rhythms. Popularized by Tale Of Us, Afterlife label, and festival main stages. Maceo Plex, Massano, Anyma.
Dub Techno	120-135	128	Combines techno with dub reggae techniques — heavy reverb, delay chains, and dubby chord stabs create a meditative, spacious sound. Basic Channel, Rhythm & Sound, DeepChord.
Minimal Techno	125-135	130	Stripped to essentials — sparse arrangements, subtle percussion, and hypnotic repetition. Less is more. Plastikman, Robert Hood, Ricardo Villalobos.
Broken Techno	125-138	130	Techno built on broken beats and irregular kick patterns instead of strict 4/4. Bruce, Batu, Pessimist, Livity Sound territory. UK bass-meets-techno.
Tribal Techno	130-138	134	Drum-heavy techno with tribal percussion patterns and global drum influences. Adam Beyer's early Drumcode, Joel Mull, Marco Carola territory.
Detroit Techno	128-140	135	The original techno sound. Melodic, soulful, and forward-looking — influenced by Kraftwerk, funk, and sci-fi. Belleville Three: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson.
Birmingham Techno	130-142	135	Dark, mechanical UK techno school — Surgeon, Regis, British Murder Boys, Female. Downwards label sound built on dystopian repetition.
Peak Time Techno	132-140	135	Beatport's catch-all for festival-ready, dancefloor-focused techno — Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer territory. Driving but melodic enough for big rooms.
Raw Techno	130-142	135	Stripped, lo-fi techno with raw analog warmth. Berghain-aligned but drier — Answer Code Request, Kobosil, Fadi Mohem.
Hypnotic Techno	130-142	135	Long, looping, trance-inducing techno built on subtle evolution. Donato Dozzy, Voices From The Lake, early Nina Kraviz Trip releases.
Acid Techno	130-145	138	Merges techno's drive with the squelchy TB-303 acid sound. Intense, psychedelic, and rave-oriented. Stay Up Forever, Liberator DJs.
Industrial Techno	135-150	142	Raw, abrasive, and uncompromising. Distorted kicks, metallic textures, and relentless intensity. Perc, Ancient Methods, Blawan.
Hard Techno	145-160	150	Faster, harder, louder. Pounding kicks, screeching synths, and aggressive energy for peak-time dancefloors. SPFDJ, Sara Landry, Hector Oaks.
Schranz	145-160	150	German hard techno offshoot known for hammering, distorted kicks and minimal melodic content. Chris Liebing's Frankfurt sound, late-90s Cocoon era.

vibesdj.io/dj-tools - BPM ranges are practical DJ references, not strict genre boundaries.

Techno

130–150BPM

138

90170

Originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. Driven by repetitive, mechanical rhythms and futuristic synth textures. Designed for dark, immersive dancefloors.

Repetitive rhythmsMechanical feelDark atmosphereFuturistic synths