Online Timer
Countdown timer with alarm sound. Runs in background tabs.
Quick start
Timer Presets
Common Timer Durations
| Duration | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | Quick breathing exercise, microwave heating, brushing section |
| 5 minutes | Brewing tea, quick break, power meditation, egg boiling |
| 10 minutes | Short exercise set, focused work sprint, cooking pasta |
| 15 minutes | Cleaning sprint, email check, walking break, stretching |
| 25 minutes | Pomodoro work interval, study session, presentation practice |
| 30 minutes | Workout session, focused deep work, laundry reminder |
| 45 minutes | Class period, meeting timer, baking, gym session |
| 1 hour | Study block, parking meter, exam timer, slow cooking |
| 2 hours | Movie length, long study session, bread proofing, deep work block |
How to Use This Timer
Set a custom duration by entering hours, minutes, and seconds in the input fields, then click Start. The circular progress ring fills as time elapses, giving you an at-a-glance sense of how much time remains.
Use quick presets to start a timer with one click. The preset buttons (1m, 5m, 10m, 25m, etc.) immediately start counting down — no extra steps needed. This is especially useful for Pomodoro intervals, cooking, or exercise sets.
Switch tabs freely. The timer uses a time-based approach rather than simple interval counting, so it stays accurate even when the browser tab is in the background. The tab title updates with the remaining time (e.g., "05:30 — Timer") so you can monitor progress from your tab bar.
When the timer finishes, a dual-tone alarm plays repeatedly until you click Dismiss. If you've allowed notifications, a browser notification appears too — useful when you're working in another application.
Session recovery: if you accidentally close the tab while a timer is running, return to this page and you'll see a prompt to restore your previous timer. The timer calculates where it would be based on the elapsed time.
Fullscreen mode enlarges the timer display to fill your screen — ideal for presentations, classrooms, or when you need to see the countdown from across the room. Press F or click the Fullscreen button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer records the target end time and calculates remaining time from the real clock, so it stays accurate regardless of browser throttling. The alarm sound plays even when the tab is not focused. On mobile, keep the browser open (not minimized) for best results.
What happens if I close the page by mistake?
The timer saves its state to your browser's local storage. If you return to the page before the timer would have finished, a restore prompt appears. Click "Restore" to resume the countdown from where it should be. If the timer would have already finished, the saved state is automatically cleared.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. You work in focused 25-minute intervals (called "pomodoros"), separated by 5-minute breaks. After completing four pomodoros, you take a longer 15–30 minute break. Use the 25m quick preset for work intervals and the 5m preset for short breaks.
Can I mute the alarm sound?
Yes. Click the "Sound on" button below the timer to toggle it off before starting. When muted, the timer will still count down and show the visual alert, but no audio will play. You can also enable browser notifications as a silent alternative.
Are there keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Press Space to start or pause the timer, R to reset, and F to toggle fullscreen mode.
Does this timer work on mobile?
Yes. The timer is fully responsive and works on iOS and Android devices. For the best experience, keep the browser tab active — some mobile browsers may throttle background tabs to save battery. The fullscreen mode works on most mobile browsers as well.