A typical curling match lasts about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the level and format of play.

Standard match length

  • Championship and Olympic team games are usually 10 ends , taking roughly 2.5 to 3 hours including all throws and thinking time.
  • Many league or recreational games are 8 ends , which usually takes around 2 hours.
  • Each end often takes about 15 minutes, so more ends mean a longer match.

Different formats

  • Traditional four‑player team curling: 8–10 ends, about 2–3 hours.
  • Mixed doubles: normally 8 ends and tends to be shorter, often around 2 hours or a bit less.
  • Some club nights use time limits (e.g., “no new end after 1:50”) to keep the schedule tight, which can shorten effective match length.

Why it can vary

  • Extra ends for tiebreakers add more time beyond the usual 8 or 10 ends.
  • Teams are given a fixed amount of thinking time (like 30–38 minutes per team depending on ends and discipline), and slower decision‑making can stretch the overall session close to the three‑hour mark.
  • At casual or beginner levels, play may be slower at first, but clubs often schedule about a two‑hour slot per game.

Quick example

Imagine a standard 10‑end championship game:

  • 10 ends × about 15 minutes per end ≈ 150 minutes of play (2.5 hours).
  • Add short breaks and any delays, and you’re looking at roughly 2.5–3 hours from first stone to handshake.

TL;DR:

  • Most club games (8 ends): around 2 hours.
  • Top‑level games (10 ends): about 2.5–3 hours, longer if extra ends are needed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.