20 minute timer
Twenty minutes is the nap length sleep researchers point to — long enough to feel it, short enough to wake without grogginess. It is also roughly how long white rice needs. Start it and an alarm brings you back.
What a 20 minute timer is good for
- A power nap that avoids deep-sleep grogginess
- Simmering rice and grains
- Reading or study blocks
Does it keep running in the background?
Yes. The countdown is worked out from the clock rather than counted tick by tick, so switching tabs or minimising the window does not slow it down — and the alarm still sounds at zero. Leave the tab open and it will be accurate when you come back.
Need a different length? Set any time on the main timer.
About Timer
An online countdown timer counts down from a time you set and sounds an alarm when it reaches zero. Enter hours, minutes, and seconds or tap a preset, start it, and it runs in your browser — great for cooking, workouts, focus and Pomodoro sessions, and breaks. No download or sign-up needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the alarm sound if I switch tabs?
- Yes. The timer tracks real elapsed time from a timestamp, so it counts down correctly and sounds the alarm when it completes, even if you've been on another tab the whole time.
- Can I use it as a Pomodoro timer?
- Absolutely. Set 25 minutes for a focus session and 5 for a break using the presets or custom input, then restart as needed.
- How is the timer different from the stopwatch?
- The timer counts down from a duration you choose and alarms at zero. The stopwatch counts up from zero to measure how long something takes. Use the timer when you want to be alerted after a set amount of time.
- Do I need to install or sign up for anything?
- No. It runs entirely in your browser with no download, account, or sign-up — just set a time and start.