Hockey intermissions are usually about 15–18 minutes long, depending on the league and level of play.

Standard NHL intermission length

For the NHL (the most commonly asked about):

  • Regular season games: Intermissions between the 1st and 2nd periods are 18 minutes long, as set out in the current NHL rulebook.
  • Playoff overtime: Intermissions before overtime periods are typically 15 minutes.
  • No full intermission before regular-season overtime or a shootout; those follow fairly quickly after the 3rd period ends.

In practice, that 18‑minute break starts from when the period officially ends and players are off the ice, not exactly when the scoreboard hits 0:00.

Other hockey levels and variations

Outside the NHL, the exact intermission time can vary:

  • Many pro, junior, and international leagues use breaks in the 15–18 minute range so they can resurface the ice and run ads.
  • Some lower levels or local leagues may use slightly shorter intermissions if there is no TV coverage and simple ice maintenance.

So if you are planning a snack run or a quick break, assuming roughly a 15–18 minute window between periods will almost always be accurate.

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