15 Minute Timer

  • Set Sound
  • Set Time

How the 15 minute timer works

Press Start and the 15 minute timer is off: it counts down from 15:00, shows the exact clock time it will finish, and sounds an alarm at zero. Need 14 or 16 minutes instead? The links to nearby durations and the Set Time button cover that.

  • Start or pause: the Start button or the Space bar.
  • Reset to 15:00: the R key.
  • Full screen for a projector or TV: the F key.
  • Glance at the browser tab title to see the time left while you work in another tab.

Why a quarter hour is such a popular length

Fifteen minutes is long enough to get real work done and short enough that almost anyone can commit to it. That makes it a good "just start" timer for a task you have been putting off.

Teachers use it for silent reading, independent practice or a station rotation. At home it works as a homework check-in, a block of instrument practice or a quick tidy before guests arrive.

It is also a common break length. In the Pomodoro method, the longer break after four work sessions usually runs 15 to 30 minutes. If you want ideas for what to do with that time, the break timer suggests a stretch, a walk or a breathing exercise.

For a 15-minute sit, the meditation timer adds a soft bell at the start and end instead of a sharp alarm.

Common questions

Does the 15 minute timer keep counting if I switch tabs? Yes. It measures time against your system clock, so a background tab doesn't slow it down. Just keep the tab open, because the alarm only sounds while the page is open.

Can I make the alarm quieter or silent? Choose a softer sound such as Bell, or use the mute toggle and watch the countdown instead.