Quick presets

Choose a common duration or enter a custom value below.

Set countdown

Minutes and seconds. Seconds are clamped to 0-59.

MinutesSeconds0-59

Shortcuts: Space start/pause / R reset / A +1:00 / S -0:10 / F fullscreen

5:00

Countdown / Ready

Countdown Timer

Set a general countdown toward zero, then start, pause, resume, adjust, reset, or open the remaining time fullscreen.

A general countdown toward zero

Choose a duration for cooking, work, study, meetings, exercise, or an everyday task. Enter minutes and seconds directly; longer durations can be entered as total minutes and are displayed with hours when needed.

A stopwatch counts upward, while this timer counts down. Use Multiple Timers for independent simultaneous countdowns, the Timer and Stopwatch for both modes in one tool, the Clock and Timer to keep current local time visible, or the Online Timer for presets, looping, and flexible setup.

How it works

Countdown Timer starts from the duration you choose and counts down to zero. It is built for quick timing tasks where the remaining time is the main thing you need to see: cooking steps, meetings, study blocks, classroom activities, workouts, and short reminders.

Use this page when you need a general-purpose countdown: set a custom duration, press Start, pause if the task changes, then reset when you are done. It works for cooking, laundry, cleaning, breaks, reminders, workout rests, meeting buffers, and study sprints.

Set minutes and seconds. Seconds are kept in the normal 0 to 59 range, so a duration like 5 minutes and 30 seconds stays easy to read.

Adjust while timing. Use +1:00 or -0:10 for small changes without rebuilding the timer from scratch.

Keep the display visible. Fullscreen gives you large digits for projectors, shared screens, and across-the-room use.

Choose quiet or audible timing. Use the route's sound controls when an end cue is useful, or switch to a dedicated quiet page when a room should stay silent.

Use shortcuts when focused. Click the timer once, then use Space to start or pause, R to reset, A to add one minute, S to subtract ten seconds, and F for fullscreen.

Use a specialized timer when it fits better. For the quickest generic setup, use Online Timer. For a room display, use Fullscreen Timer. For quiet rooms, use Silent Timer. For parallel tasks, use Multiple Timers. For breaks or cooking, try Break Timer or Cooking Timer.

Need a countdown with visible milliseconds and millisecond input? Use the millisecond timer. This page stays focused on simple minutes-and-seconds countdowns. For a short countdown built around whole seconds, use the seconds timer, or open a direct 1 minute, 5 minute, 10 minute, 15 minute, or 30 minute timer when you want the duration ready immediately. For cooking presets and kitchen checks, use the kitchen timer. For a date-based countdown to January 1, use the New Year countdown.

Keyboard shortcuts

Click or tab into the timer first, then use these shortcuts without moving focus away from the display.

SpaceStart or pause the countdown

RReset to the selected duration

AAdd one minute

SSubtract ten seconds

FToggle fullscreen

EscExit fullscreen

Common uses

Cooking steps

Run a visible countdown for pasta, oven checks, resting time, short prep stages, or a quick kitchen reminder.

Meetings and presentations

Keep a shared timer on screen for agenda blocks, Q&A buffers, and speaker timing.

Classrooms and study blocks

Use a simple countdown for exercises, reading time, quizzes, or focus sessions.

Breaks and transitions

Set a short timer for stretch breaks, laundry checks, room resets, cleaning bursts, or returning from a pause.

Study sprints and focus work

Use one countdown for a homework block, reading sprint, writing session, or quick admin task.

Workout rests and reminders

Time a rest period, mobility hold, warmup block, or simple reminder without opening a more structured interval tool.

Frequently asked questions

What does this Countdown Timer do?

It counts down from the minutes and seconds you set. You can start, pause, reset, add one minute, subtract ten seconds, and use fullscreen.

Can I change the time while it is running?

Yes. Use +1:00 or -0:10 for quick changes. You can also pause, edit the minutes or seconds, and apply the new duration.

Does fullscreen change the timer?

No. Fullscreen only changes the display size. The countdown state and controls stay the same.

Will it still alert me if I close the tab?

No. This is a browser timer, so the page needs to stay open. Use your device alarm for anything critical.

When should I use a specialized timer instead?

Use Countdown Timer for a simple one-off duration. Use Online Timer for the fastest generic setup, Fullscreen Timer for a projected display, Silent Timer for no-sound rooms, Multiple Timers for concurrent tasks, Break Timer for short pauses, or Cooking Timer for kitchen timing.

Countdown timer notes

Browser timing, fullscreen behavior, and audio limits to keep in mind.

Keep the tab open. This countdown runs in your browser. If the tab is closed, the page cannot keep timing or alert you at zero.

Sound depends on the browser. Some browsers block audio until you interact with the page. Start the timer once with the tab active if an end alert matters.

Fullscreen is optional. Fullscreen uses the browser Fullscreen API and may require a direct click or tap before it can open.

Use device alarms for critical needs. For wake-ups, medication, safety, or anything that must ring even if the browser closes, use your device alarm instead.