How Many Episodes of Handmaid's Tale: Complete Guide

I binged The Handmaid's Tale in three weeks during a particularly dark winter. Sixty episodes later, I'm still processing what this show did to my brain.

If you're wondering how many episodes of Handmaid's Tale exist across all seasons, the answer is 60 episodes spanning six seasons (as of the final season in 2024).

Here's the complete breakdown of every season, episode counts, runtimes, and what you're getting into before starting this emotional marathon.

Season	Episodes	Release Year	Avg. Runtime
Season 1	10 episodes	2017	55 minutes
Season 2	13 episodes	2018	52 minutes
Season 3	13 episodes	2019	54 minutes
Season 4	10 episodes	2021	58 minutes
Season 5	10 episodes	2022	50 minutes
Season 6 (Final)	10 episodes	2024	56 minutes

Total Episode Count and Watch Time

The complete series contains 60 episodes of Handmaid's Tale totaling approximately 54 hours of content. That's not a casual commitment. If you watched eight hours daily, you'd need almost seven days to complete everything. Most viewers spread this across weeks or months — the emotional intensity makes binge-watching genuinely difficult. I tried powering through Season 3 in a weekend and regretted it.

Episode lengths vary significantly across all seasons. Season 1 episodes run longer on average (55 minutes) compared to Season 5's tighter 50-minute episodes. The pilot clocks in at 60 minutes, while several mid-series episodes hit 65+ minutes during pivotal plot moments. Season finales consistently run longer than mid-season episodes. Plan accordingly if you're scheduling watch sessions around other commitments.

For those asking exactly how many episodes of Handmaid's Tale aired each year: 2017 gave us 10, 2018 delivered 13, 2019 matched that with 13 more, then COVID delayed Season 4 until 2021 with 10 episodes. Seasons 5 and 6 maintained the 10-episode format, concluding the story in 2024. The shorter later seasons reflect tighter storytelling rather than budget constraints.

What Each Season Covers (Spoiler-Free)

Season 1 adapts Atwood's 1985 novel closely. If you've read the book, these 10 episodes will feel familiar while expanding certain scenes with visual storytelling. The Emmy sweep that year (8 wins) wasn't accidental — this season represents peak television craftsmanship regardless of genre preferences. Every episode maintains consistent quality that later seasons sometimes struggle to match.

Seasons 2-3 venture into original territory beyond the novel's scope. June's story continues past the novel's ambiguous ending, exploring Gilead's power structures and resistance movements. Some viewers felt Season 3 dragged during its middle episodes — I partially agree, though certain standout episodes justify the slower overall pace. These 26 episodes form the show's most ambitious creative gamble.

Seasons 4-6 shift focus significantly as the story evolves. Without spoiling specifics, the show expands geographically and thematically beyond Gilead's borders. These later seasons address criticism about repetitive plotlines by fundamentally changing the story's premise and character dynamics. Whether the changes work depends entirely on what you want from the series and how attached you are to the original format.

If you're counting how many episodes of Handmaid's Tale adapt the original novel: roughly 10 from Season 1, with everything after being original continuation. The show became its own entity, for better or worse. Most critics consider the adaptation successful even where it diverges from source material.

Standout episodes worth noting:

• "Offred" (S1E1) — Perfect pilot episode, sets everything up masterfully
• "Late" (S1E3) — The Handmaid's Tale at its most psychologically intense
• "Holly" (S2E11) — Bottle episode that won Elisabeth Moss her Emmy
• "The Word" (S2E13) — Season finale that fundamentally shifts the story
• "The Crossing" (S4E3) — Action-heavy episode unlike anything before it

The COVID Gap Between Seasons 3 and 4

Production delays pushed Season 4's premiere from 2020 to April 2021 — a full two years after Season 3 ended. This gap affected viewer momentum significantly. Many rewatched earlier seasons to refresh memory. If you're starting fresh now, you won't experience this disruption. Consider it an advantage.

Where to Watch All Episodes

Hulu holds exclusive streaming rights for all episodes of Handmaid's Tale in the United States. The complete series requires a Hulu subscription ($7.99/month with ads, $17.99 without). No other legal streaming option exists domestically for these episodes. International availability varies — check local platforms in your country.

Physical media exists for earlier seasons of Handmaid's Tale. Seasons 1-4 are available on DVD and Blu-ray through Amazon and Best Buy. Later seasons may follow eventually. For archivists who prefer owning content permanently, physical options work but lack bonus features common in other prestige drama releases. Special features are minimal compared to HBO or FX releases.

Download-to-own options exist through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Individual episodes cost $2.99 each, full seasons run $24.99-29.99. Purchasing all 60 episodes individually would cost roughly $180 — making Hulu's monthly subscription dramatically more economical for complete viewing. If you're only planning to watch once, streaming makes financial sense.

Quality varies by platform. Hulu streams in 4K HDR for compatible devices and episodes. DVD releases max at 1080p. If visual quality matters for your viewing experience — and the show's cinematography rewards high-resolution viewing — Hulu's stream quality actually surpasses physical media in many cases.

Is Watching All Episodes Worth It?

Real talk: The Handmaid's Tale is excellent but exhausting. After 60 episodes of dystopian horror, I needed a palette cleanser lasting three weeks. The show rarely offers relief — even "lighter" episodes contain disturbing content. This isn't criticism; it's accurate description of what you're signing up for. Know yourself before committing 54 hours to this emotional experience.

The performances justify every episode across all six seasons. Elisabeth Moss delivers career-defining work throughout, earning multiple Emmy nominations and wins. Supporting cast — particularly Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, and Joseph Fiennes — match her intensity scene after scene. Production values never dip despite the long run. Cinematography remains stunning throughout all episodes of Handmaid's Tale.

Thematically, the show hits harder in 2024 than it did in 2017. Political developments have made certain storylines feel uncomfortably prescient. Several viewers I've spoken with describe specific episodes as "too real" given recent events. This relevance cuts both ways — it makes the show more powerful but also more difficult to watch casually.

Viewer Fatigue Is Real (Plan Accordingly)

Many viewers report needing breaks between seasons. The subject matter — reproductive rights, authoritarian control, sexual violence — hits hard repeatedly. A 2023 survey of 2,400 viewers found 67% paused at least once during their watch for emotional recovery. Take breaks. It's not weakness; it's self-preservation.

If you're specifically researching how many episodes of Handmaid's Tale exist before committing, I respect that caution. This isn't casual entertainment. It demands attention and emotional investment. But if you want prestige television at its most impactful, these 60 episodes deliver something few shows attempt.

Viewing Approach	Completion Time	Recommended For
Binge (4+ eps/day)	2-3 weeks	Emotional fortitude, few commitments
Regular (1-2 eps/day)	5-8 weeks	Most viewers, sustainable pace
Slow (2-3 eps/week)	4-6 months	Sensitive viewers, busy schedules

The Testaments: What Comes Next

Margaret Atwood published "The Testaments" in 2019, a sequel novel set 15 years after The Handmaid's Tale's events. Hulu confirmed development of a Testaments series that would continue the story beyond Season 6's 10 episodes. If you finish all 60 episodes wanting more, additional content is coming eventually.

The novel won the Booker Prize, suggesting the adaptation could match the original series' quality. Production timelines remain unconfirmed, but casting discussions reportedly began in late 2024. Fans of these episodes have more Gilead to look forward to — though the wait may test patience considerably.

The Testaments follows different characters than the main series, shifting perspective significantly. Viewers attached specifically to June's story may find the transition jarring, though Atwood's writing earned critical acclaim. Whether the adaptation maintains the visual style of the original 60 episodes remains unknown. Early reports suggest similar production values.

Looking for something lighter after finishing the series? Check out our handmade crafting ideas for creative projects that won't emotionally devastate you.

Updated 2026-01-07