Pomodoro Timer
Pomodoro timer: press start and focus until the sound plays. Focus and break phases switch automatically, with a progress bar, round counter and a skip button for the next phase.
Source: Francesco Cirillo – The Pomodoro Technique (creator of the method). Updated: .
How it is calculated
How the Pomodoro timer works
Set focus time, short break, long break and how many rounds happen before the long break (defaults: 25 / 5 / 15 minutes, long break after 4 rounds). A progress bar and dot counter show how many focus rounds are done in the current cycle, while "Pomodoros completed" keeps counting beyond that. The skip button jumps to the next phase manually, "Start next phase automatically" removes the extra click, and a sound marks every change.
The Pomodoro Technique in five steps
- Pick one task.
- Set the timer to 25 minutes and start it.
- Work only on that task until the alarm sounds.
- Take a 5-minute break – ideally away from the screen.
- After four rounds, take a long break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Worked example: one full cycle with the default settings takes 4 × 25 + 3 × 5 + 15 = 130 minutes and contains 100 minutes of focus. An 8-hour day (480 minutes) fits three full cycles (390 minutes, 12 Pomodoros) plus three more rounds with two short breaks (85 minutes) – 15 Pomodoros or 6 hours 15 minutes of focus in total. Meetings, email and lunch come on top in practice, so a realistic daily goal is lower.
Where the technique comes from
Francesco Cirillo created the method as a university student in the late 1980s, using a tomato-shaped ("pomodoro" in Italian) kitchen timer, and later described it in his book "The Pomodoro Technique". The core idea: work on one task for a fixed stretch without interruption, then take a deliberate break.
Why short, fixed blocks work
Two effects explain it: the Zeigarnik effect, where unfinished tasks keep nagging at attention until they're either done or written down; and the natural drop in sustained focus after roughly 20–45 minutes, which regular breaks counter better than one long uninterrupted stretch.
Handling distractions
If a thought or interruption comes up mid-round, jot it down instead of acting on it right away, then deal with it in the next break. That keeps the current round intact without losing the idea.
Pros and cons
- Pros: easier to start on tasks you avoid, since you only commit to 25 minutes; regular breaks; visible progress through the counter.
- Cons: the alarm can break a good flow, and work full of calls or interruptions is hard to fit into fixed blocks. Fixes: set a longer focus time, or end a phase on purpose with “Skip” or hold it with “Pause”.
Pomodoro for studying and for kids
When studying for exams, assign each round to a specific chunk of material and use the break to quickly recall what stuck. For children or as a first try, shorter blocks can help, such as 10 to 15 minutes of focus with a 5-minute break – all values can be set freely above.
Combining it with a to-do list
Works best paired with a task list: pick a task, estimate how many focus rounds it needs, then start the timer. Split larger tasks across several Pomodoros and bundle small ones together.
Other timing combinations
- 25 / 5 minutes (default): easy to start, many short milestones
- 50 / 10 minutes: for tasks that need ramp-up time
- 90 / 20 minutes: matches a full ultradian cycle, for deep, uninterrupted work
Enter any combination above and set the long break to trigger after the number of rounds you want.
Technical details
Phases are calculated from fixed end timestamps rather than counted down, so each phase picks up exactly where the previous one ended – even after a long time in a background tab. Alarm sounds for upcoming changes are scheduled in advance via the Web Audio API, so they still fire on time in throttled background tabs. Remaining time is also shown in the browser tab title. All settings live as parameters in the address (e.g. …/pomodoro/?fokus=50&kurz=10) and can be bookmarked.
Tasks, daily count and notifications
Below the timer you can note the tasks for the session. The first open task is the current one: every completed focus round is credited to it (× 2 means two Pomodoros). Above it you see today’s count and the schedule – when the long break starts and when the cycle ends. Tasks and the count stay in this tab only and are gone when you close it; nothing is sent anywhere. To notice a phase change while you are in another window, tick “Notification on phase change” – the browser then asks for permission once. “Share” gives you a link with your times.
Frequently asked questions
How long is one Pomodoro?
Classically 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break, with a 15–30 minute break after four Pomodoros. All times can be adjusted above.
Does the timer keep running in the background?
Yes. Time is calculated from timestamps and sounds are scheduled in advance. It only stops if you close the tab or your phone suspends the page while locked.
What if I get interrupted during a focus round?
The original method treats an interrupted Pomodoro as void. Jot down short distractions and handle them later; for a real interruption, hit "Reset" and start the round again.
Where does the name "Pomodoro" come from?
From the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Francesco Cirillo used to time his work sessions as a student – "pomodoro" is Italian for tomato.
Is the Pomodoro Technique good for ADHD?
Many people with ADHD report that short, clearly bounded blocks with visible progress and built-in breaks help. Try it and shorten the focus round if needed, e.g. to 15 minutes.
How many Pomodoros a day is realistic?
With 25/5/15 minutes, 15 Pomodoros fit into 8 hours on paper. Meetings, email and breaks come on top, so an achievable daily goal is usually well below that – track a few days with the “Pomodoros completed” counter and set your goal from there.
What are the downsides of the Pomodoro Technique?
A fixed alarm can interrupt a good flow, and work with lots of interruptions fits poorly into rigid blocks. Longer focus times (such as 50 minutes) or skipping a phase manually help with that.
How do I combine the timer with a to-do list?
Pick a task, roughly estimate how many focus rounds it needs, then start the timer. Spread larger tasks over several Pomodoros and bundle small ones into one round.
Sources and legal basis
- Francesco Cirillo – The Pomodoro Technique (creator of the method)
- MDN: Web Audio API (alarm sound without an audio file)
As of: · Editorial policy
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