Pomodoro Timer

Twenty-five minutes on, five off. The breaks start themselves.

  • Free
  • Breaks start on their own
  • Lengths you can change

25 minutes remaining. Ready. Focus, round 1 of 4.

Pomodoro

ReadyRound 1 of 4

0 focus blocks done
Change the lengths

Minutes, 1 to 180. A long break follows every fourth focus block.

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

How the Pomodoro Technique works

The Pomodoro Technique splits work into short, fixed blocks. You focus for 25 minutes, take a 5 minute break, and repeat. After four focus blocks you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Francesco Cirillo named it after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used as a university student.

The fixed length is the point. A deadline 25 minutes away is close enough to make you start and short enough that distractions can wait until the break. The break matters as much as the block: it keeps the fourth round as sharp as the first.

On this page the cycle runs itself. When a focus block ends, a chime plays and the break starts. When the break ends, the alarm rings and the next focus block waits for you to press Start, so it never runs while you are away from the desk.

Good for

  • Studying for exams
  • Writing and editing
  • Coding and debugging
  • Clearing an email backlog
  • Practising an instrument
  • Working through a reading list

Getting the most from each Pomodoro

  1. Pick the task before you press Start

    Write down what this block is for. If you spend the first five minutes deciding, the block is mostly gone.

  2. Park interruptions instead of acting on them

    When something comes up, jot it on a list and get back to work. The list is what the break is for.

  3. Step away during the break

    Stand up, stretch, or refill your water. Scrolling through messages isn't rest, and the next block pays for it.

Pomodoro Timer questions

Why 25 minutes?

It is the length Cirillo used, and it suits most people because it is short enough to start without dread. If you settle in quickly, try 50 minutes of focus with 10 minute breaks. Change the lengths under the timer.

Do the breaks start automatically?

Yes. When a focus block ends, a single chime plays and the break begins. When a break ends, the alarm rings and the next focus block waits until you press Start.

When do I get a long break?

After every fourth focus block. The dots under the timer fill in as you finish each block, and all four stay filled during the long break.

Does it remember my settings?

Your focus, short break and long break lengths are saved on this device, so the timer opens with them next time. The round count starts again when you reload the page.

Want a single countdown instead? Use the main timer, try the floating timer, the classroom timer, the stage timer, the online stopwatch or the interval timer, or read how the Pomodoro timer works.