2026.10.2
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Durations in automations and scripts

Several options in automations and scripts take a duration. For example, the For at least option of triggers and conditions, the Delay action, and the timeout of the wait actions. They all accept durations in the same formats.

Entering a duration in the UI

In the UI, you enter a duration in hours, minutes, and seconds. For the Delay action and the timeout of the wait actions, you can also enter milliseconds.

The State changed, Numeric state crossed threshold, and Template triggers also let you use a templateA template is an automation definition that can include variables for the action or data from the trigger values. This allows automations to generate dynamic actions. [Learn more] for For at least. Under For at least, choose Template instead of Duration, and enter the template. For details, refer to Templates in durations.

Duration formats in YAML

In YAML, a duration accepts these formats:

  • A number of seconds, such as 300 for 5 minutes.

  • A time in HH:MM:SS format, such as "00:01:30" for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

  • A time in HH:MM format, such as "01:30" for 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is hours and minutes, not minutes and seconds.

  • A mapping with one or more of days, hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. For example:

    for:
  minutes: 5
  seconds: 30

Device triggers and device conditions only accept the mapping format.

Most triggers and conditions, such as Door opened, expect for under options:. Each trigger and condition page shows where for goes in its YAML example.

Templates in durations

These options also accept a template:

  • For at least on the State changed, Numeric state crossed threshold, and Template triggers.
  • For at least on the State condition.
  • The Delay action, and the timeout of the Wait for a template and Wait for a trigger actions.

The template can return any of the formats above, including a number of seconds. In a mapping, you can also use a template for each value. This example waits as many seconds as input_number.delay_in_seconds is set to:

for: "{{ states('input_number.delay_in_seconds') | int }}"

Other triggers and conditions, such as Door opened or Temperature crossed threshold, currently don’t accept templates for For at least.

Durations that can only be edited in YAML

Some durations work, but the UI can’t show them. For these, the automation editor switches to YAML:

  • On the State changed trigger and the State condition, a mapping with milliseconds, or a mapping with a template for a value.
  • On the Delay action, any template.

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