Online Timer
Enter minutes or tap a preset – the online timer starts immediately, counts to an exact end time and alerts you with a beep.
How it is calculated
How the online timer works
When you press start, the timer stores the exact end time instead of counting down second by second. The display is recalculated from the current clock on every frame, so it never falls behind – even if you switch tabs or the browser throttles background tabs.
The alarm is scheduled on the browser's audio clock (Web Audio API) the moment you start, so it sounds on time even in a background tab. No audio file is downloaded for it. The remaining time is also shown in the browser tab title, so you can keep an eye on it from another tab or window.
How to set the timer
- Enter hours, minutes and seconds – or tap a preset from 1 to 60 minutes.
- Click “Start” or press the space bar. The display counts down and the bar shows your progress.
- The line under the display shows the clock time when the timer ends. At zero the alarm sounds, and many Android phones also vibrate.
Example: you start a 1 hour 25 minute timer at 2:07 pm. That is 85 minutes or 5,100 seconds; the display shows 01:25:00 and “ends at 3:32 pm”. If you pause at 2:30 pm, 23 minutes have passed and 62 are left. Resume at 2:40 pm and the end moves back by the 10-minute pause to 3:42 pm.
Ways to use it
- Cooking and baking: eggs, pasta, tea or baking time – one click on a preset starts it.
- Workouts: fixed intervals for planks, push-ups or rest between sets.
- Study and Pomodoro sessions: work and break blocks of a set length, with the remaining time staying visible in the tab title while you work in another app.
- Meetings and presentations: keep track of speaking time without leaving your slides.
- Classrooms and kids: clean-up or play time with a large display and simple space-bar control.
Controls and settings
Hours, minutes and seconds can be entered freely (up to 99:59:59), plus one-tap presets for 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. The "Play sound when time is up" checkbox turns the alarm on or off. On the keyboard, Space starts and pauses the timer, and R resets it.
Your setting is also part of the page address: a bookmark to …/timer/?minuten=12 opens a ready-to-go 12-minute timer and can be saved or shared as a link.
Countdown timer or countdown to a date?
A countdown timer runs down a fixed duration, such as 10 minutes – that is exactly what this timer does. To count down to a calendar date, such as Christmas or a vacation, use the countdown to a date instead; it shows days, hours, minutes and seconds.
Embed it on your own website
The timer is also available as an embeddable widget, for example for a classroom or club website. It works just like here, with presets, alarm sound and keyboard control.
Limits
On a locked phone the page runs in a limited way, since many phones pause web pages once the screen is locked – the sound may not play. Because browsers only allow audio after a user interaction, start the timer with a click or key press so the alarm is guaranteed to be heard.
Frequently asked questions
Does the timer keep running when I switch tabs?
Yes. The remaining time is calculated from the end time, and the sound is scheduled in advance. Closing the tab or the browser stops the timer, though.
Why is there no sound?
Browsers only allow audio after you interact with the page, so start the timer with a click or the space bar. Also check the volume, your phone’s silent switch and the “Play sound” checkbox.
Is there a 5 minute timer or 10 minute timer preset?
Yes. One-tap presets cover 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes, so a 5 minute timer or 10 minute timer starts instantly without typing anything.
How do I set a timer online?
Enter hours, minutes and seconds or tap a preset such as 5 or 10 minutes, then click “Start” or press the space bar. The line under the display shows the clock time when the timer will end.
Can I use it for workouts, studying, cooking or meetings?
Yes. The large display, one-tap presets and space-bar control make it easy to use for classrooms, training intervals, presentations and Pomodoro-style study sessions.
Does it work on a locked phone?
Only partly: many phones pause web pages while the screen is locked. The time is correct again once you unlock, but the sound may not play. Use your phone’s alarm clock for anything important.
How long can the timer run?
Up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. For a specific date, use the countdown instead.
Can I save, share or embed the timer?
Yes. The time you set is part of the page address, so you can bookmark it or share it as a link and it opens ready to go. For your own website the timer is available as an embeddable widget. No account or install is needed.
Sources and legal basis
- MDN: Web Audio API (alarm sound without an audio file)
- MDN: Page Visibility API (behavior in background tabs)
As of:
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