A washing machine appliance for performing timed wash cycles is provided. The washing machine appliance receives a total cycle time for a timed wash cycle. A fill time of a fill cycle portion of the timed wash cycle is determined. Then, one or more cycle times of the remaining one or more cycle portions of the timed wash cycle are adjusted based at least in part on the total cycle time and the fill time such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time.