How to use the countdown timer
Tap one of the presets for an instant start, or type hours, minutes and seconds into the fields and press Start. The display counts down to zero, at which point the screen flashes and an alarm sound plays. Pause freezes the countdown and the same button resumes it from exactly where it stopped; Reset clears everything and brings the input fields back.
If you allow notifications when your browser asks, you will also get a desktop notification when the timer finishes — useful when the timer is running in a tab you have switched away from. Granting it is entirely optional and the timer works the same either way.
Why this timer stays accurate
Browsers deliberately slow down background tabs to save battery, which is why many web timers drift badly — a naïve implementation counts ticks, and a throttled tab produces fewer ticks than it should. This timer instead records the wall-clock moment it is due to finish and compares against the system clock on every update. Switch tabs, minimise the window or leave it running for hours and the finish time is still the finish time; only the on-screen refresh rate is affected, not the result.
The one thing that genuinely stops it is the device sleeping or the tab being closed. If the countdown matters, keep the tab open and the machine awake.
What people time
- Cooking. Steeping tea (3 minutes for black, 2 for green), soft-boiling eggs (six minutes is the usual target for a runny yolk), resting a steak, proving dough.
- Focused work. The Pomodoro technique alternates 25 minutes of uninterrupted work with a 5-minute break, taking a longer 15-minute break after four rounds. It works because a fixed, visible endpoint makes starting easier than an open-ended session does.
- Exercise. Interval training, plank holds, circuit rounds and rest periods between sets.
- Meditation and breathing. Ten minutes is the most common starting length; the alarm removes the urge to keep checking the clock.
- Teaching and presenting. Timed exercises, group activities, exam sections, and keeping conference talks to their slot.
- Games and quizzes. Turn limits for board games, pub quizzes and classroom competitions.
- Household chores. Laundry cycles, a 20-minute tidying sprint, screen-time limits for children.
Timer, stopwatch, alarm or countdown?
The four tools sound similar and get confused constantly. The distinction is simple:
- A timer counts down from a duration you choose and alerts you at zero. Use it when you know how long something should take.
- A stopwatch counts up from zero. Use it when you want to find out how long something took.
- An alarm fires at a specific clock time such as 07:00, regardless of when you set it.
- A countdown targets a date, typically days or months away, rather than a duration in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there quick-start presets?
Yes — the chips above set 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes and start immediately. There are also dedicated pages for every common duration, listed at the bottom of this page.
Can I pause and resume?
Yes. Pause stops the countdown and the button becomes Resume, picking up from the exact remaining time.
Will it keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer works from the finish time rather than counting ticks, so background throttling does not cause drift. The display may update less frequently while hidden, but it will be correct when you return.
Why can't I hear the alarm?
Browsers require one interaction with the page before they allow audio. Clicking anywhere — including the Start button — is enough. Also check that the tab is not muted and that system volume is up.
What is the longest timer I can set?
Up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. Anything longer is better handled by the countdown, which works in days.
Does it work offline?
Yes. The page is cached after your first visit, so it continues to work without a connection and can be installed as an app from your browser menu.
Popular timers
Jump straight to a ready-made countdown: