Online Timer

A simple countdown timer with an alarm. Set any time or tap a preset, press Start, and get a beep when time is up. Works in a background tab.

05:00

Ready

How to use the online timer

  1. Type hours, minutes and seconds, or tap a preset such as 5 or 25 minutes.
  2. Press Start. The countdown also appears in the browser tab title.
  3. When it reaches zero, an alarm beeps and the display flashes. Press Reset to start again.

Popular timer uses

  • Pomodoro focus sessions: work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.
  • Cooking: eggs, pasta, tea steeping or resting dough.
  • Classrooms and meetings: timed tests, presentations, brainstorms and breaks. Use full screen so everyone can see it.
  • Workouts: planks, rest periods and stretching holds.
  • Kids: screen-time limits, tidy-up races and turn-taking.

Why this timer stays accurate

Browsers slow down scripts in background tabs, which makes timers that count ticks drift. This timer records the exact end time when you press Start and always shows the difference between now and that end time, so it stays correct even if you switch tabs or your device is busy.

Need to measure how long something takes instead? Use the online stopwatch.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The timer is based on the clock time when you pressed Start, not on counting ticks, so it stays accurate in a background tab. The page title also shows the time left so you can see it from the tab bar.

Will it make a sound when time is up?

Yes. When the countdown reaches zero the timer plays a beeping alarm for a few seconds and the display flashes. Make sure your device volume is on. Some browsers only allow sound after you have clicked on the page, which pressing Start does.

Can I pause and resume?

Yes. Press Pause to freeze the countdown and Resume to continue from where you stopped. Reset returns it to the time you set.

What is the longest timer I can set?

Up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

Does the timer work offline?

Once the page has loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser and does not need an internet connection.