Twenty Minute Timer
Set a timer for 20 minutes and let this page do the rest. One click starts the countdown, and when it finishes you get a gentle chime, a flash of lime, and a quiet sense of having finished something. It keeps running in the background while you work, keeps your screen awake, and never asks you to sign up.
Features
Everything a twenty minute timer should be
Whether you want a 20 minute countdown timer for a study sprint, a quick break, or a phone-free meal, it starts in one click, and then gets out of your way.
Pause & resume
Life happens. Pause the countdown and pick up exactly where you left off. The timer never loses your place.
Ambient focus sounds
Rain, brown noise, white noise or a lo-fi pad, generated live in your browser. No audio files, no sign-up, nothing to install.
Deep Focus mode
A near-black, lime-lit display for low-light rooms and late-night work. One tap in the nav.
A finish worth hearing
Pick a chime, beep, alarm or bell. When twenty minutes are up we ring it, flash the ring, and buzz your phone.
Fullscreen, zero distractions
Press F or tap the expand button and the screen holds only the timer. One glance, that’s all.
Survives your tabs
Switch tabs, close the laptop, come back later. Your timer 20 minutes long stays honest about the time left.
How it works
How to set a 20 minute timer
The whole workflow (it takes longer to read than to do):
Press Start
The countdown begins the moment you are ready. The wake lock keeps your screen from dozing off. Set the timer to 20 minutes with one tap, and that is the entire setup.
Focus for twenty minutes
Switch on rain or brown noise, mute the world, and work in one unbroken deep block. Start the timer for 20 minutes and the tab title shows exactly what is left.
Celebrate & repeat
A chime rings, confetti falls, and your session counter ticks up. Reset and go again. Set 20 minute timers back to back and watch the sessions stack up.
Why twenty minutes
What can you do in 20 minutes?
Twenty minutes is the sweet spot of focus, long enough to get into a task, short enough to never burn out. It is the block behind the classic pomodoro method, a single deep-work session, and the small rituals that quietly change a day.
I built this timer for my own afternoon writing blocks, and the rule that sticks is embarrassingly simple: set a timer for twenty minutes, choose one task, and do nothing else until it rings. Short enough to start without dread, long enough to actually get somewhere. That is why the timer is locked to exactly 20:00. No fiddling between you and the work.
A timer twenty minutes long fits more than you would think. Here is what people do with one:
- Run a deep-work sprint: one focused task, fully shipped
- Stretch, roll, or flow through a quick yoga session
- Take a twenty-minute walk and reset your head
- Tackle a tidy-up or an inbox-zero sprint
- Read twenty pages: a chapter a day, painlessly
- Get a focused workout or cardio block in
Pick one idea, set a timer. 20 minutes of full attention is the whole ask. Let the countdown do the nagging.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How do I set the timer for 20 minutes?
Press the big Start button, or hit Space anywhere on the page. The timer is preset to exactly 20:00, so there is nothing to configure: set a timer to 20 minutes, press Start, and the countdown begins. If you need to pause, it holds your spot exactly.
Does the timer work on my phone?
Yes, any modern browser on iOS or Android. Even on a phone you can start a 20 minute timer and lock the screen; it keeps counting. On iPhone Safari, where fullscreen is not available, the expand button switches to a distraction-free focus view instead, and your phone buzzes (or shows a notification) when the time is up.
Can I use 20 minute timers with music?
Sort of, and it beats a playlist. Instead of streaming music, this timer generates ambient scenes live in your browser: rain, brown noise, white noise, or a lo-fi pad. They loop forever, never end, and cost nothing. Pick one, set a 20 minute timer with sound, and let it sit quietly behind your work.
Does the timer keep running in another tab?
Yes. The countdown is anchored to real time, not to the tab, so switching tabs or minimizing the window never makes it drift. Set a timer; in 20 minutes it will ring on schedule, whether you are watching or not. Your remaining time also shows in the tab title, so a quick glance is all it takes.
What happens when twenty minutes are up?
Your chosen sound plays (chime, beep, alarm or bell), the ring flashes, confetti falls, and your phone buzzes if it supports it. If the tab is hidden, you get a browser notification instead. You won’t silently miss the end of the timer.
Is the twenty minute timer free?
Completely. No account, no sign-up, nothing to install. All sounds are synthesized in your browser, so the timer even works offline once the page has loaded. Your countdown, sessions and preferences stay on your device.
Why would I use a 20 minute timer?
Twenty minutes is the classic deep-work block, long enough to make real progress, short enough to stay sharp. Use it for focused sprints, quick workouts, short breaks, or a mini pomodoro session: a timer for twenty minutes fits all of them. Some people even run a 20min timer as their whole morning routine.
Can I pause the countdown?
Yes, pause holds your place exactly, and the timer never loses a second. When you are ready, start a timer for 20 minutes again and it picks up right where you paused.
Does the timer track my sessions?
Yes. Every finished 20 minute session is counted on the card, and the total is stored locally in your browser. It is a quiet way to watch the day add up.