Last updated November 11, 2026. Covers all 291 episodes of the original Japanese run.
Dragon Ball Z's reputation for padding comes from its long fights, not its filler. Only about one episode in eight is anime-only. The best-known runs are Gohan's training adventures before the Saiyans arrive, the Garlic Jr. saga after Frieza, and the Other World Tournament before the Buu saga.
Dragon Ball Z filler at a glance
| Type | Episodes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Filler | 38 (13%) | Skip |
| Manga canon | 244 | Watch |
| Mixed canon and filler | 9 | Watch |
Skip the filler and you're down from 291 episodes to 253. Finished (1989 to 1996).
Every Dragon Ball Z filler episode
Here's every filler episode in one line, ready to copy into a watch list:
9-10, 12-16, 39-43, 100, 102, 108-117, 124-125, 170-171, 174, 195-199, 202-203, 274, 288
Dragon Ball Z filler arcs and runs
| Episodes | Length | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 10 | 2 | Anime-only side story |
| 12 to 16 | 5 | Anime-only side story |
| 39 to 43 | 5 | Anime-only side story |
| 108 to 117 | 10 | Anime-only side story |
| 124 to 125 | 2 | Anime-only side story |
| 170 to 171 | 2 | Anime-only side story |
| 195 to 199 | 5 | Anime-only side story |
| 202 to 203 | 2 | Anime-only side story |
How to watch Dragon Ball Z without filler
Skip the filler below. If you want an even tighter watch, Dragon Ball Z Kai re-edits the whole story without the filler and much of the padding, in about 167 episodes.
Mixed canon and filler episodes: 11, 17-18, 20, 44, 204, 229, 251, 287.
How we classify episodes
Filler is anime-only material that doesn't affect the main story. Mixed episodes adapt the manga but add some original scenes. Anime canon episodes are anime-original but count as part of the story. Our classifications follow the community-maintained lists at AnimeFillerList, and we check episode totals against each series' official episode guides.