Pomodoro timer
Focus for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and take a longer break after every four rounds. Change any of the lengths to suit you.
Focus
Focus 1 of 4
Ready
Ends 25 minutes after you press Start.
Free, no sign-up — runs in your browser. Nothing you set is sent anywhere.
Keyboard: Space start or pause, R reset, F full screen.
What the Pomodoro technique is
The Pomodoro technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Work is split into focused blocks, traditionally 25 minutes long, called pomodoros — Italian for tomatoes, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a student.
Each pomodoro is followed by a short break of about 5 minutes. After four pomodoros, you take a longer break, usually 15 to 30 minutes. The fixed rhythm makes it easier to start a task and to stop for a rest before you are worn out.
How to use this timer
- Pick one task for the next focus block and put everything else aside.
- Press Start. The phase label shows Focus, and the counter shows which round you're on.
- Stay on the task until the chime. If something else comes to mind, jot it down and get back to work.
- Take the break. A different chime marks each change, and the next phase starts on its own — or turn off "Start the next phase automatically" to press Start yourself.
- After the last round, the long break ends the set and your chosen sound plays. Press Restart for another set.
Many people adapt the lengths — for example 50 minutes of focus and 10 minutes of rest for deep work. Changes you make while the timer is running take effect when you reset it.
Timer modes
Single timers
Frequently asked questions
What is a pomodoro?
One focused work block in the Pomodoro technique, traditionally 25 minutes long, followed by a short break. The name is Italian for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer the method's creator, Francesco Cirillo, used.
Can I change the lengths?
Yes. Set the focus, short break and long break lengths in minutes, and how many focus rounds come before the long break. The defaults are the classic 25, 5 and 15 minutes with four rounds.
What happens between phases?
A chime plays — a bell when focus starts and a softer chime when a break starts — and the next phase begins automatically. Turn off "Start the next phase automatically" if you'd rather press Start yourself.
Will the alarm go off if I switch tabs or lock my phone?
In a background tab on a computer, yes. The countdown is worked out from the real clock and the alarm is scheduled with the browser's sound engine when you press Start, so it stays on time. Phones often pause web pages while the screen is locked, so the sound may wait until you unlock; keep the screen on (the timer asks the browser to do that where it can) and the volume up. You can also turn on "Notify me when time's up" for a system notification. When you come back to the page, it shows the right state straight away.