Tap a time, or type your own and press Start.
Why an hourglass timer?
Numbers tell you exactly how long is left. An hourglass shows you, which is often more useful. One look at the sand from across the room and you know roughly how much of your time has gone, without reading a single digit.
This one works like the real thing. Press Start and the glass flips over, then the sand pours from the top to the bottom as your time runs out. Pause the timer and the sand stops where it is. When the time is up the hourglass gives a little wiggle, the screen flashes and your chosen sound plays.
Unlike a real sand timer, it isn't stuck at one length. Tap 1 minute for a quick task or type any time up to 99 hours, and the sand spreads itself over exactly that long.
Good for:
- Brushing teeth for two minutes
- Turns in board games and quizzes
- Tidy up races with kids
- Timed drawing or writing practice
- A short break away from the screen
Other timer styles:
How to use the timer
Tap one of the quick times and the countdown starts straight away. For any other length, click the numbers, type hours, minutes and seconds, then press Start.
Pick a style: the hourglass flips over when you start and pours its sand as the minutes pass, so you can see how much is left from across the room. The candle burns down and blows out at the end, a calm one for study or reading. The firework fuse sparks its way to a rocket that launches into confetti, which kids love. In Sunset the sun sinks until the stars come out, Shapes lets four little shapes leave one by one, and Dial is a classic visual timer for classrooms: the yellow wedge shrinks as the time runs out. Plain shows just the numbers, as big as they'll go. Three have their own pages: the hourglass timer, the candle timer and the visual timer.
When the time is up the screen flashes and your chosen sound plays until you stop it. Press +1 min for a little more time, even while the alarm is ringing.
Keyboard: Space starts and pauses, R resets, F goes full screen.
Good for: soft-boiled eggs (6 minutes), tea (3 to 5), a plank or workout round, timed exams and classroom tasks, kids' screen time, talks and presentations, and short breaks between work.
Working in longer blocks? The Focus garden grows a plant while you focus. For the time of day on a spare screen, try the flip clock.
Is the timer free?
Yes. No sign up and nothing to install. It runs right in your browser on phones, tablets and computers.
Will it ring if I switch tabs?
Yes. The alarm is scheduled with your device's audio clock the moment you press Start, so it rings on time even when the page is in the background. Keep the tab open, though: closing it stops the timer.
Can I share a timer link?
Yes. The address updates when you pick a time, for example prakashcollective.com/timer/#10m opens a 10 minute timer and #1h30m opens one for an hour and a half. Handy for a class or a recipe.
Does it keep my screen on?
While the timer is running, it asks your device to keep the screen awake, so a phone propped up in the kitchen won't go dark. The screen can sleep again once the timer stops.
Why can't I hear the alarm on my iPhone?
On iPhones the silent switch also mutes sounds made by websites. Flip the switch off silent and press Hear it to check. The screen still flashes when the time is up.
What if I reload the page by mistake?
The countdown carries on from where it was, because the end time is saved in your browser. Tap the page once so the alarm is allowed to sound again.