Skip to the timer
minute·timer

Count down to zero

Countdown timers

A countdown runs the other way to a stopwatch: it starts at your number and empties. Set the length here, or open one of the ready-made countdowns below.

15 minutes

15:00

Shortcuts: space start or pause · R reset · F fullscreen. The alarm rings even if you switch tabs.

In short

A countdown timer starts at a set length and runs down to zero, where it rings — unlike a stopwatch, which counts up from zero, or an alarm, which is tied to a time of day. Use a countdown when the finish is what matters.

Counts
Down to zero
Versus stopwatch
A stopwatch counts up and has no end point
Versus alarm
An alarm fires at a clock time, not after a length
Display
Digits, draining bar, and a tick strip readable across a room

Countdown, stopwatch or alarm?

Three different tools that people often name interchangeably. A countdown starts at a set number and runs to zero — use it when the finish is what matters. A stopwatch counts up from zero — use it when you want to know how long something took. An alarm is tied to a time of day rather than a length.

Everything on this site is a countdown, because the question people actually search for is 'how long is left', not 'what time is it'.

Reading the display

Three things move while a countdown runs. The digits give the exact remaining time. The bar along the top drains left to right, so a glance tells you roughly how far in you are. The strip of ticks under the digits fills as the block passes — designed to be read from the back of a room, where digits alone are hard work.

Questions about countdown timers

Can I count down to a specific date or time of day?

Not on these pages — they count down a length you choose, which is what most tasks need. For an event countdown measured in days, you want a date countdown rather than a task timer.

Does the countdown make a noise at the end?

Yes, three rising tones, plus vibration on supported phones. You can turn the sound off with the Sound button if you want a silent visual countdown.

Can I run the countdown silently?

Yes. Press Sound off before you start and nothing will play — the screen still turns red and shows that the time is up, which suits exams, sleeping babies and quiet offices.

Ready-made countdowns

Fixed lengths, already loaded.

Countdowns with a job to do

Same clock, set up for a specific task.