A cutting phase usually lasts around 8 to 16 weeks depending on your starting body fat and your target weight.
If you only want to lose a small amount of fat a cutting phase of 6 to 8 weeks may be enough.
A good cutting phase focuses on steady fat loss rather than trying to lose weight as quickly as possible.
If you are already fairly lean you may need a slower and shorter cut to help preserve muscle.
If you have more body fat to lose your cutting phase can take several months when done at a sustainable pace.
Longer cuts can sometimes benefit from short maintenance periods where calories are increased to maintenance levels.
Extremely aggressive cutting can make it harder to maintain muscle and may negatively affect workout performance.
If you have a small amount of fat to lose you might reach your goal within 6 to 8 weeks with a moderate calorie deficit.
A cutting phase should be long enough to produce meaningful fat loss but not unnecessarily aggressive.
Taking a maintenance break can be useful during a longer cutting phase especially when dieting becomes difficult to sustain.