Meditation Timer

How to use the online meditation timer

This online meditation timer gives you a calm, minimal screen and a soft singing-bowl style bell at the start and end of your session. Choose a length, add interval bells if you like, and sit without checking the clock.

1. Pick a session length: 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
2. Choose an interval bell every 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes, or leave it off.
3. Set a preparation countdown of 0, 10 or 30 seconds so you have time to settle into your posture.
4. Press Start. A bell marks the beginning, and another marks the end.

This is an unguided timer. There's no voice, music or instruction, just bells and silence, so you can follow any technique you already practice.

Why use a simple meditation timer?

Many meditation apps come with guided audio, streaks and courses. That's helpful for some people, but if you want to sit quietly with your own practice, all you really need is something that keeps time and tells you gently when you're done. Without a timer, it's easy to keep wondering how long it has been, which pulls your attention away from the practice itself.

The bells are synthesized to sound like a singing bowl rather than an alarm, so the end of the session feels like a natural close, not a jolt.

Ways to use interval bells

Interval bells chime quietly during the session. They're optional, but they can be very useful:

• Body scan: set a bell every 1 or 2 minutes and move your attention to the next area of the body each time it rings.
• Switching techniques: in a 20-minute sit with a bell every 10 minutes, you could spend the first half on breath awareness and the second on loving-kindness.
• Posture check: a bell every 5 minutes is a gentle reminder to notice whether you've slumped and to relax your shoulders and jaw.
• Coming back: if your mind often wanders, an interval bell can be a cue to notice where your attention went and return to your anchor.

If you prefer an uninterrupted sit, turn interval bells off and you'll only hear the opening and closing bells.

Session lengths for beginners

If you're new to meditation, start small. A 3 or 5 minute session done every day is easier to keep up than a 30-minute session you skip. Once sitting still for 5 minutes feels comfortable, move up to 10, then 15 or 20.

The preparation countdown helps here too: 10 or 30 seconds is enough to put your device down, close your eyes and take a few breaths before the first bell.

Setting up your space

Press F for full screen so nothing else on your screen catches your eye, and dim your display if you meditate with your eyes open. The timer keeps accurate time even if the screen goes to the background, but the bells only play while the page is open in a tab. On iPhone and iPad, tap the page once before you start so the bell can sound.

Looking for something to help you wind down without sitting? The candle timer shows a candle slowly burning down, and the sand timer shows sand draining through an hourglass.

FAQ

Does this meditation timer include guided meditations?

No. It's a silent, unguided timer with bells. If you're following a technique from a teacher, book or class, you can use it to time your practice.

Can I meditate with my phone and the screen off?

The bells need the page to stay open. The timer tries to keep your screen awake while it runs, but support depends on your phone's browser. Lay the phone face down with the page open rather than locking it.

How long should a beginner meditate?

Start with 3 to 5 minutes a day. Consistency matters more than length at first; add a few minutes once the shorter sessions feel easy.