2 minute timer

Your 2 minute timer is ready

The clock already reads 02:00. Hit "Start", or the space bar, and this 2 minute timer runs through its 120 seconds and beeps at zero.

What fits into two minutes?

• Brushing your teeth. Dentists advise brushing for about two minutes, twice a day. Most of us stop sooner when nothing is counting.
• The two-minute rule. If a job takes less than two minutes, do it now instead of adding it to a list: reply to that email, hang up the coat, wash the mug.
• Rest between sets. Two minutes is a common rest period between heavy sets of squats or bench presses.
• The two-minute silence. In the UK it is observed at 11 am on Remembrance Day. Untick the sound and let the display mark the end.
• A penalty in ice hockey. A minor penalty keeps the player off the ice for two minutes.
• An elevator pitch. If you cannot explain the idea in two minutes, it needs trimming.

Making the most of 120 seconds

For brushing, think of your mouth in four quarters and give each one 30 seconds. The progress bar helps: move on when it is a quarter, half and three-quarters full. Prop your phone against the bathroom mirror and start the countdown before you pick up the brush. Children tend to accept the beeps as the referee more readily than a parent's voice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use it without sound late at night?

Yes. Untick "Sound at the end" and the timer finishes quietly, with flashing digits only.

Does "Reset" take me back to two minutes?

It does. "Reset" stops the countdown and puts 02:00 back on the display, ready for the next person at the sink. "Pause" is different: it freezes the time, and "Resume" carries on from the same second.