52/17 Timer
Repeating 52 minutes of focus followed by a 17-minute break. The timer switches between them for you and counts your cycles.
Keyboard: Space to start or pause, R to reset, F for full screen. The alarm plays while this page stays open in a browser tab.
How to use the 52/17 timer
The 52/17 timer runs the 52/17 work method for you: 52 minutes of focus, then a 17-minute break, repeated for as many cycles as you need. Each phase has its own color, an alarm marks every switch, and a counter shows how many cycles you've finished.
- Open the timer; it's already set to 52 minutes of work and 17 minutes of break.
- Decide whether the next phase should auto-start. Turn it on for a hands-off cycle, or off if you want to start each phase yourself.
- Press Start (or Space) and work on one task until the alarm sounds.
- Take your 17-minute break away from the screen, then begin the next 52-minute block.
Press F for full screen or R to reset. The remaining time also appears in the browser tab title.
Where the 52/17 rule comes from
The 52 17 ratio is associated with DeskTime, a time-tracking app. Around 2014 the company looked at its users' data and reported that its most productive users tended to work for about 52 minutes and then take a break of about 17 minutes.
It's worth being clear about what that is: an observation from one company's app data, not a scientific law or a controlled study. Still, the pattern caught on because it describes something many people recognize: focus for close to an hour, then rest long enough to actually recover.
Who the 52/17 method suits
- People who find 25 minutes too short. If the Pomodoro alarm keeps interrupting you just as you settle in, 52 minutes gives you room to get deep into a task.
- Writers, developers and designers doing work that takes a while to warm up.
- Anyone who needs real recovery. Seventeen minutes is enough for a walk, a snack or a proper stretch, not just a glance at your phone.
It may not suit days packed with meetings, or tasks that come in many small pieces. In those cases, shorter cycles are easier to fit around interruptions.
52/17 vs. Pomodoro vs. 50/10
| Method | Focus | Break | Cycles in about 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro | 25 min | 5 min (longer break after 4) | About 7–8 |
| 50/10 | 50 min | 10 min | 4 |
| 52/17 | 52 min | 17 min | About 3½ |
The 52/17 method has the most generous break of the three. You give up some total focus time, but each break is long enough to leave your desk. The 50/10 timer keeps almost the same focus block with a shorter break, which fits neatly into an hour. The classic Pomodoro timer uses shorter 25/5 blocks that are easier to start when motivation is low.
Tips for a good 52/17 cycle
- Pick one task per block. Write it down before you press Start so you don't spend the first ten minutes deciding.
- Really step away on the break. The long break is the point of the method. Get up, move, drink water, or rest your eyes on something far away.
- Use auto-start carefully. It's handy when you're deep in a flow, but turning it off makes you choose to start each block, which some people find helps them stay intentional.
- Adjust if it doesn't fit. If 52 minutes leaves you drained, try 50/10 or Pomodoro instead. The best ratio is the one you can keep up.
FAQ
Is the 52/17 rule scientifically proven?
No. It comes from DeskTime's analysis of how its own users worked, not from a controlled scientific study. Treat it as a useful starting point and adjust it to how you work.
What should I do during the 17-minute break?
Do something that isn't work and ideally isn't a screen: take a short walk, stretch, make a snack or chat with someone. If you want ideas, the break timer has a button that suggests break activities.
Does the timer keep running if I switch to another tab?
Yes. It measures time against your system clock, so it stays accurate in the background. The alarm only sounds while the page is open, so keep the tab open until you're done.