How long does a 25 shot cake last?

Last reviewed 2026-10-15.

There is no one answer. Shot count tells you how many tubes fire, not how fast. A 25 shot cake that empties in 12 seconds and a 25 shot cake that takes 45 seconds are two different products, so read the shot count and the running time together.

What the catalog shows

• The typical 500 gram cake in our catalog has 25 shots and runs about 32 seconds.
• The typical 200 gram cake has 16 shots and runs about 27 seconds.
• Most 500 gram cakes run between 19 and 55 seconds, and most 200 gram cakes between 16 and 50 seconds.

These are the typical shot count and the typical running time for each size, worked out separately from the products where each is recorded. They are not a measured time for 25 shot cakes specifically.

Why two cakes with the same shots run different lengths

• Cakes are built with their own fuse timing between shots, and many are built to accelerate, so the last two seconds fire faster than the first ten.
• A cake that fires fast is a finale piece. One that fires slowly can carry a segment of a show.

How to find the real time

1. Look for the duration on the box or the store listing.
2. Open the product in the guide, which shows the recorded duration where we have it.
3. Watch the product video if there is one. A 30 second video tells you more than a box.

Planning how many pieces fill a show is covered in planning a show.