Online Timer: Countdown Timer with Alarm
A simple online countdown timer for cooking, workouts, study, meetings and games. Pick a preset or type hours, minutes and seconds, press Start, and an alarm sounds when time is up. The time left also shows in the browser tab, so you can work in another tab.
- Alarm sound
- Quick presets
- Works in the background tab
- No sign-up
Shortcuts: Space starts or pauses, R resets. Open ?m=10 to start with 10 minutes.
How to use
- Choose a quick timer or type hours, minutes and seconds.
- Press Start (or the space bar). The ring and the number count down.
- Press Pause to hold the time and Resume to carry on, or Reset to start over.
- When it reaches zero an alarm plays and a message appears. Keep the sound on and the page open.
A countdown timer that keeps good time
The timer measures real elapsed time against the clock, not by counting ticks, so it stays accurate even if the browser slows a background tab. The remaining time is shown in the tab title, which makes it easy to keep an eye on it while you use other pages. On phones the screen can stay awake while the timer runs, if your browser allows it.
Handy times
Common choices are 1 minute for a quick break, 3 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 5 minutes for a short rest between workout sets, 10 minutes for a power nap start, 25 minutes for a focus session (see our Pomodoro timer) and 60 minutes for a lesson or a slow-cooker check. Need to measure how long something takes instead? Use the online stopwatch.
Frequently asked questions
Does the timer work if I switch tabs?
Yes. It keeps counting against the real clock and the remaining time shows in the tab title. Most browsers still play the alarm, but keep the sound on and do not mute the tab.
How long can I set the timer for?
You can set up to 99 hours, 999 minutes or 999 seconds in each box, added together. For very long waits it is safer to use your phone alarm as a backup.
Why did I not hear the alarm?
Check that your device volume is up, the tab is not muted and “Play alarm sound” is ticked. Some browsers block sound until you have clicked on the page once, which pressing Start does.
Is the timer free and private?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.