Countdown Timer

Set a countdown timer for any number of minutes — with a sound alert when time is up. Free and online.

Runs entirely in your browser. Keep this tab open; a sound plays when the time is up.

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This online countdown timer counts down from the number of minutes you set and plays a tone when it reaches zero. Type the minutes or tap one of the preset buttons, press Start, and the large display ticks down in minutes and seconds. It is sized to be read from across a room, which suits classrooms, kitchens, meetings and workouts.

Setting the time

Set minutes box: type any whole number of minutes. The arrows run from 1 up to 600, which is 10 hours. Decimals are dropped, so 2.5 becomes 2 minutes.
Presets: 1m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m and 30m set the time in one tap. The page opens at 5 minutes.
Display: minutes and seconds, such as 14:59, switching to hours, minutes and seconds (1:29:59) for 60 minutes or more.

Seconds cannot be set, so a 90-second timer is not possible; use 1 or 2 minutes, or count 90 seconds on the online stopwatch. The minutes box is locked while the timer runs.

Pausing, resetting and finishing

While running, the Start button becomes Pause; press it to freeze the time and again to continue. Reset stops the timer and returns it to the minutes you set. At zero the display holds 0:00 and one short beep, just under a second long, plays once. There is no repeating alarm or pop-up notification, so keep your volume up. Pressing Start after the timer has finished begins a fresh countdown from the full time.

Keep the tab visible for accurate timing

The timer subtracts one second on each tick of the page. Browsers slow down the timers of tabs you are not looking at, and phones may suspend a page altogether when the screen locks, so a countdown left in a hidden tab can finish later than it should. For anything where the exact end matters, such as an exam practice paper, leave the timer on screen and stop the phone from sleeping.

Ways to use the presets

1 minute: the preparation time in IELTS Speaking Part 2, or a plank hold.
3 minutes: steeping tea, or a quick stand-up update for each team member.
5 minutes: a short break between study sessions or a timed speaking drill.
10 to 15 minutes: a presentation slot, a group activity in class, or cooling a cake before taking it out of the tin.
30 minutes: one section of a practice test, or a focused tidy-up.

For repeated work-and-break cycles, the Pomodoro timer switches between 25-minute focus sessions and 5-minute breaks automatically. The countdown runs entirely within your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Will the countdown timer make a sound when time is up?

Yes, a single short beep plays at zero. Keep the tab open and your device volume on, because the tone does not repeat.

Can I set a timer in seconds?

No. The timer takes whole minutes only; for shorter or odd intervals, use a stopwatch and watch the time.

Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?

It keeps counting, but browsers slow down background tabs and phones may pause them, so it can finish late. Keep it visible when timing matters.

How do I pause the timer?

Press the Start button again while it runs; it reads Pause. Press it once more to resume from where it stopped.

What is the longest time I can set?

The minutes box goes up to 600 with its arrows, which is 10 hours.