Countdown Timer
Free online countdown timer with sound alarm. Set hours, minutes, seconds with custom labels. Progress ring animation and beep notification when time is up.
Time's Up!
📋 Session History
What is a Countdown Timer?
A countdown timer counts down from a set time to zero. Unlike a stopwatch that counts upward, a countdown timer is perfect for timing activities with a fixed duration — cooking, workouts, presentations, or study sessions. This free online countdown timer requires no installation and works in any modern browser.
How to Use the Countdown Timer
Choose a quick preset (1 min, 5 min, 25 min, etc.) or enter custom hours, minutes, and seconds. Optionally add a label like "Workout" or "Cooking". Click Start — the ring shrinks and changes color as time runs out (violet → amber → red in the final 10%). Click Pause to freeze the timer and Start again to resume from exactly where you left off.
Visual Progress Ring
The large glowing ring gives you an instant visual of how much time remains. It turns amber when you're at 25% of the original time, and shifts to red in the final 10% to signal urgency. This makes it easy to monitor time from across the room without reading the exact numbers.
Sound Alarm Feature
When the countdown reaches zero, a triple-beep alarm sounds. You can disable it by unchecking the sound toggle. The alarm uses the browser's Web Audio API and works on all modern devices.
Common Uses for a Countdown Timer
- Cooking — Monitor cooking times for recipes, boiling eggs, or baking.
- Fitness — Time workout intervals, rest periods, or HIIT rounds.
- Studying — Set focused study blocks or test time limits.
- Pomodoro — Use the 25-minute preset for focused work sessions.
- Classroom — Teachers can use this for quiz time limits or activities.
- Meditation — Time mindfulness or breathing sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a timer and a stopwatch?
A timer counts down from a preset time to zero. A stopwatch counts up from zero. For counting upward, use our Stopwatch.
Can I pause and resume without losing time?
Yes — the Pause button freezes the timer at the exact millisecond, and clicking Start again resumes from precisely where it stopped.
Why doesn't the sound work?
Some browsers require user interaction before playing sounds. Click anywhere on the page first. Check that your device is not muted and the sound toggle is enabled.