20 Minute Timer

Twenty minutes. A real focus block without committing an hour.

  • Free
  • No signup
  • Alarm at zero

20 minutes remaining. Ready. 20 minutes.

Choose a duration

Ready20 minutes

Set a custom time

Whole minutes and seconds, up to 24 hours.

A small timer window that stays on top of other apps
  • SpaceStart, pause, stop alarm
  • RReset
  • EscExit full screen

What a 20 minute timer is good for

A 20 minute timer sits between a warm-up and a full half hour. It is long enough to get properly into a task and short enough that committing to it feels easy, which makes it a sensible default when you can't tell how long something will take.

Twenty minutes is also a popular length for a power nap, a short workout, or a single timed section of exam practice, where the clock keeps you honest about pace.

Try it for

  • Focused writing or coding
  • A power nap
  • One timed exam practice section
  • A short run or workout
  • Email and admin catch-up
  • Prep before a presentation

Getting the most from 20 minutes

  1. Use it when you can't estimate

    Not sure if a job takes ten minutes or an hour? Start twenty. When the alarm rings you'll know whether to restart or stop.

  2. Nap with the sound on

    Turn the volume up and click the page once before you lie down. Browsers can block audio until you've interacted with a page.

  3. Pair it with a short break

    Twenty minutes on and five off is a gentle rhythm for long afternoons. When the alarm rings, pick 5 and start the break.

20 Minute Timer questions

Is 20 minutes good for a power nap?

It's a common choice, because it's short enough to wake up easily. Keep the tab open, the device awake, and the sound on so the alarm can play.

Will the alarm ring if my laptop goes to sleep?

Not while it's asleep, because browsers pause pages during sleep. When it wakes, the time left is correct and the alarm plays if the time is up. For naps, keep the screen on.

Need a different length? Set a custom time on the main timer, or read how the timer works.

Other timer lengths

Each face of the cube suits a different kind of work.