Pomodoro timer

Updated 18 October 2026

A free online focus and study timer. Choose how long you want to focus and it adds the breaks for you.

How to use this timer

Choose how long you want to focus: type a number or use the arrows. The timer splits it into work blocks of up to 30 minutes with a 5-minute break between them, and longer sessions get one 15-minute break halfway. 100 minutes gives four 25-minute blocks, the classic Pomodoro pattern. Tick Skip breaks to focus in one go.

Press Start focus session. The box fills as each phase runs, and a chime marks the end of every phase, even when the tab is in the background. Pause when you need to, or change phases early with the Rest now and Work now button.

Switch to Advanced to set every Work and Rest phase yourself. Your settings and today's sessions stay in this browser. The timer needs JavaScript; everything else on this page reads without it.

How the Pomodoro Technique works

Francesco Cirillo began developing the Pomodoro Technique in the 1980s, when he was a university student. He challenged himself to focus for short periods, timed with a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, which is pomodoro in Italian ^[1]. A block that ends in 25 minutes is easier to start than an open afternoon, and regular breaks keep you fresh for the next one.

The classic steps are simple ^[2]:

Choose one task.
Set the timer for 25 minutes and work only on that task. If something else comes to mind, write it down and go back to the task.
When the timer rings, take a short break of about 5 minutes.
After four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

What research says about timed breaks

In a 2023 study, 87 university students either took fixed breaks, 6 minutes after every 24 minutes of study, or took breaks when they chose. Those with fixed breaks reported less fatigue and more concentration and motivation, and they got as much done in less time ^[3].

A 2025 study gave 94 students four 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks. Their fatigue rose faster during the session, but by the end there was no difference in fatigue, motivation or productivity compared with students who chose their own breaks ^[4].

Across 22 study samples, breaks of 10 minutes or less raised energy and lowered fatigue. Their effect on performance was small and showed mainly on less demanding tasks ^[5]. So fixed breaks are a good default rather than a guarantee: use them if they help you start and keep going.

When longer blocks suit deliberate practice

The 25-minute block was designed for getting through tasks. Building a skill works differently. Deliberate practice, as the psychologist Anders Ericsson called it, means working on a well-defined task at the edge of your ability, with feedback on how you did and the chance to repeat and correct, and it takes real effort ^[6].

Ericsson and his colleagues reviewed studies that found essentially no benefit from more than four hours of such practice a day, and smaller gains beyond two hours ^[6]. The limit is your attention, not the timer, and a 25-minute block often ends just as you are warmed up.

25-minute blocks for tasks you keep putting off, for tired days and for learning to focus.
50-minute blocks with 10-minute rests for instrument practice, writing, coding and study that need a warm-up.
Your own lengths once you know how long your attention lasts. When it fades before the timer rings, take the break early.

Questions and answers

What is a Pomodoro timer?

A timer that splits work into focused blocks with short breaks in between. The classic pattern is 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break, with a longer break after four blocks.

How does this timer split my time?

Choose how long you want to focus. The timer splits it into blocks of up to 30 minutes with a 5-minute break between them, and a 15-minute break halfway through longer sessions. 100 minutes gives four 25-minute blocks. Tick Skip breaks to focus in one go.

Can I set the phases myself?

Yes. Switch to Advanced to set each Work and Rest phase, from 1 minute up to 8 hours, and add or remove phases. While a session runs, the Rest now and Work now button changes phase straight away.

Is this timer free? Do I need an account?

It is free and needs no account. Your settings and today's sessions stay in this browser. Sign up for 10k, also free, only if you want to keep your sessions.

Does it keep running in a background tab?

Yes. It keeps time from your device's clock instead of counting ticks, so it stays exact when you switch tabs, and the chime still plays when a phase ends. The tab title shows the time left.

Is 25 minutes the best length?

No length suits everyone. Fixed breaks helped students in one study, while another found no overall difference. Start with 25-minute blocks and try 50 minutes for work that needs a warm-up.

Can I use it on my phone?

Yes, in any modern phone browser. The time stays right if you switch apps or lock the phone, but the phone may hold back the chime until you come back to the page.

How is 10k different from a Pomodoro timer?

10k is a free practice-time tracker built around the 10,000-hour idea. A timer runs the clock. 10k keeps every session, adds it to your hours for each activity, draws your days as a heatmap and shows when you will reach your goal.