How to use the timer
- Presets: the buttons under the display set 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 minutes or 1 hour in one click.
- Any other time: type hours, minutes and seconds and press Set time (or Enter).
- Start, Pause, Reset: Pause keeps the remaining time; Start continues from there. Reset goes back to the time you set.
- +1 min adds a minute, whether the timer is running, paused or has just finished — useful when the pasta needs a little longer.
- When time is up, the display reads 00:00, a "Time's up!" bar appears and the alarm repeats for about 30 seconds. Press Stop sound to silence it.
While the timer runs, the remaining time is also shown in the browser tab's title, so you can glance at it from another tab.
Want a timer ready to go? Add ?minutes=10 to this page's address (or
?minutes=2&seconds=30) and bookmark it. The page opens with that time set; you just press Start.
Why it stays accurate in a background tab
Many simple web timers count down by subtracting one second every second. Browsers deliberately slow down timers in background tabs to save battery, so a timer built that way falls behind as soon as you look at something else.
This timer works differently. When you press Start, it notes the exact moment the countdown will end. Every update compares that moment with the clock, so the time shown is correct no matter how often the page gets to update. Switch back to the tab and the display catches up instantly.
The sound is a different matter. A hidden tab may only be allowed to check the time now and then, so the alarm can sound a little late if the tab has been in the background for a long time. When exact timing matters — an exam, a speech, a recipe step — keep the tab visible. A computer that goes to sleep stops the timer's sound completely until it wakes.
Times from Canadian health guidance
Some everyday timings come straight from federal health guidance. A timer makes them easy to follow:
| What | Time | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Washing your hands | at least 20 seconds | Public Health Agency of Canada: rub soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds, covering palms, backs of hands, between the fingers, thumbs and under the nails. |
| Food left out at a party or meal | 2 hours | Health Canada: throw away cooked food left out at room temperature for more than two hours. |
| Leftovers in the fridge | 2 to 3 days | Health Canada: eat refrigerated leftovers within 2 to 3 days, or freeze them. |
Set a 2-hour timer when you put food out for a buffet, a potluck or a holiday dinner; when it rings, refrigerate or throw out what's left. Health Canada's danger zone for bacteria is between 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F and 140 °F), so hot food should stay hot and cold food cold. Very hot dishes can cool on the counter first and go into the fridge once they stop steaming, in shallow containers so they cool quickly. When you reheat leftovers, Health Canada's target is an internal temperature of 74 °C (165 °F) — a thermometer measures that, not a timer.
For handwashing, 20 seconds is shorter than most people think. Set the timer to 0 minutes 20 seconds once and you'll get a feel for it.
What people use each preset for
| Preset | Common uses |
|---|---|
| 1–3 minutes | Quick exercises, a short speaking turn, steeping tea, a stand-up stretch |
| 5 minutes | A short break, a classroom transition, a quick tidy-up |
| 10–15 minutes | Timed reading, a break at work, letting meat rest, a kids' screen-time limit |
| 20–25 minutes | A power nap, a focus session (see the Pomodoro timer), a short workout |
| 30–45 minutes | Practice exams, a parking meter, laundry cycles, homework blocks |
| 1 hour | Study sessions, oven times, a meeting time limit |
At work, a long timer can also remind you about your meal break. Federally regulated employees are entitled to a break of at least 30 minutes during every five consecutive hours of work under the Canada Labour Code, and the provinces have similar rules; the details are on the Pomodoro timer page.
Timer, alarm or stopwatch?
All three measure time, but they answer different questions:
- Timer (this page): "Tell me when this amount of time has passed." You know the length, not the end time — 12 minutes for the eggs.
- Alarm clock: "Tell me when it's this time of day." You know the end time, not the length — 3:15 p.m. to leave for school pickup.
- Stopwatch: "How long did that take?" You measure from a start you choose, with lap times if you need them.
- Pomodoro timer: a timer that alternates focus sessions and breaks for you.
If you're counting down to a date rather than a number of minutes — a holiday, a tax deadline, a payment — use the countdown pages on this site, like the tax filing deadline.
Sound, screen and privacy
Browsers only allow a page to play sound after you've clicked something on it. Pressing Start counts, so the alarm will be able to sound when the time runs out. If you never hear it, check your device volume, whether the tab is muted, and whether headphones are connected.
On a phone, keep the screen on while the timer runs. Phones often pause web pages when the screen locks, and the alarm can't sound until the page is running again. Your phone's built-in timer is better for long countdowns with the screen off.
Once the page has loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser: it doesn't need the internet, and nothing about your timers is sent anywhere. The clock it counts against is your device's clock; the National Research Council of Canada's web clock shows Canada's official time if you want to check it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest time I can set?
23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. The +1 min button can add more while the timer runs.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The countdown is based on the end time, so the remaining time is always correct when you come back. In a tab that has been hidden for a long time, the sound at the end may come a little late, so keep the tab visible when timing matters.
What happens when the timer ends?
The display shows 00:00, a "Time's up!" bar appears and the alarm repeats for about 30 seconds. Press Stop sound to silence it, Start to run the same time again, or +1 min to add a minute.
Can I share or bookmark a timer with a set time?
Yes. Add ?minutes=10 (or ?minutes=1&seconds=30) to the end of this page's address. The link opens the timer with that time ready; it doesn't start until you press Start.
Why didn't the alarm make a sound?
Check the volume, whether the tab is muted and whether headphones are connected. Browsers block sound until you click on the page, which pressing Start takes care of. A computer that was asleep can't play the alarm.
Does it work offline?
Yes, once the page has loaded. The countdown and the sound run in your browser and don't need an internet connection.
Can I run two timers at once?
Open this page in two tabs. Each tab is a separate timer with its own time and alarm.