Online timer

An online timer that starts in one click

This online timer shows a countdown in very large digits that you can read from across the room. Pick a duration, the countdown starts, and a sound tells you when time is up. It runs in your browser on a computer, tablet or phone, with no account and nothing to install.

Use it in the kitchen, for a study session, in the classroom, in a meeting or during a board game. The time left also appears in the tab title, so you can work in another tab and still see how long remains.

How to set a timer

1. Under "Common durations", click 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 or 60 min. The countdown starts straight away, so a 5 minute timer takes a single click.
2. For any other length, fill in "Hours", "Minutes" and "Seconds" (up to 99 hours), then click "Start" or press the space bar.
3. "Pause" holds the countdown and "Resume" picks it up where it stopped. "Reset" goes back to the duration you set.
4. "Full screen" enlarges the display. The progress bar shows how much of the time has already gone.
5. At the end, the digits flash and a series of beeps plays for about fifteen seconds, or until you restart or reset. Untick "Sound at the end" for a silent timer.

The last duration you used is remembered on your device. You can also prepare an address with the time already set: add #10 to the end of the page address for 10 minutes, or #1:30 for 1 minute 30 seconds.

Which duration for what?

Egg times count from the moment the egg goes into boiling water. For pasta, follow the time printed on the packet.

Work and revision. The Pomodoro technique alternates 25 minutes of focused work with a 5 minute break. After four rounds, which adds up to 100 minutes of work, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

Classrooms and meetings. Put the countdown timer on the projector in full screen for a quiz, a group task or a presentation. In a meeting, 2 or 3 minutes per speaker keeps the agenda on track.

Exercise and home. One minute for a plank, 1 to 2 minutes of rest between sets, 30 second bursts for interval training. The timer also settles turns in a board game and children's screen time: 30 minutes, and the beeps end the debate.

Timer or stopwatch?

A timer starts from a set duration and counts down to zero. It answers "tell me when 10 minutes have passed". A stopwatch starts at zero and counts up. It answers "how long did that take?". This tool is a countdown timer only, not a stopwatch.

Frequently asked questions

Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The time left is worked out from the end time, so the countdown stays accurate while the tab is in the background. You do need to keep the tab open: closing it stops the timer, and on a phone a locked, sleeping screen can stop it or mute the sound.

Why is there no sound?

Check that "Sound at the end" is ticked and that your device volume is up. Some browsers block audio until you have clicked somewhere in the page, so start the timer with a click on a button.

How do I set a timer for 1 hour 30 minutes?

Type 1 in "Hours" and 30 in "Minutes", leave "Seconds" at 0, then click "Start". The display reads 1:30:00.

Can I run several timers at once?

Each tab runs one timer at a time. To time two things, open the page in a second tab.