Study Timer (Pomodoro)

What this study timer does

This is a free Pomodoro timer for studying: 25 minutes of focus, a 5-minute break, and a longer break after every four sessions, with the option to set any lengths you like. It counts your sessions and focus minutes for the day, plays a sound when a timer ends, and can send a browser notification so you don’t need to keep the tab open.

Because it works from the clock rather than counting seconds, it stays accurate when the tab is in the background, when your laptop sleeps for a moment, or when your phone screen turns off. Your settings and today’s totals are saved in your browser.

How to use the Pomodoro timer

1. Pick a preset: 25/5 is the classic Pomodoro, 50/10 suits longer reading or problem sets, 90/20 matches the length of a typical lecture. Or type your own focus and break lengths.
2. Press Start (or the space bar). The dots show where you are in the current cycle of four.
3. When the timer ends you’ll hear three short tones and the break starts automatically if Start the next timer automatically is on.
4. Use Skip to jump to the next phase and Reset to restart the current one.
5. Turn on notifications if you want an alert while you’re in another window.

Why 25 minutes?

The Pomodoro Technique was designed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (pomodoro is Italian for tomato). Twenty-five minutes is short enough to start without dread and long enough to get into a problem. The break that follows is the important part: it keeps attention fresh for the next round, and the four-session cycle with a longer rest stops the afternoon from turning into one long slog. If 25 feels too short for deep work, that’s what the 50/10 and 90/20 presets are for. Our guide on the Pomodoro Technique looks at what the research actually says.

Timer settings

Setting	What it does
Focus / short break / long break	Length of each phase in minutes, 1 to 600.
Long break after	How many focus sessions before the long break (4 by default).
Start automatically	Moves from focus to break and back without pressing Start.
Sound	Three short tones at the end of every phase.
Notification	A system notification, after you grant permission the first time.

Keeping the Pomodoro timer running in the background

Browsers slow down timers in background tabs, which is why many online timers drift. This one stores the exact time the phase should end and checks against the clock, so a 25-minute session ends at the right moment even if the tab was idle. The countdown also appears in the tab title, so you can see it from another tab. If your phone locks, the timer continues and the sound plays when you return to the page.

Related tools

Studying for a specific grade? Work out what you need with the Final Grade Calculator, track your course with the Grade Calculator, and see where you stand with the GPA Calculator. The history of the method is covered in this overview of the Pomodoro Technique.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Pomodoro timer keep running if I close the tab?

If you close the tab, the timer stops, but your settings and today’s session count are kept. If you only switch tabs or lock your phone, it keeps running.

Why don’t I hear the sound?

Browsers only allow sound after you’ve interacted with the page, which is why the first Start click matters. On iPhones the silent switch also mutes web audio.

Can I change the lengths mid-session?

Yes. New lengths apply from the next phase; the current countdown continues so you don’t lose progress.

How many Pomodoros should I do a day?

Most people manage 8 to 12 focused sessions on a study day, which is 3 to 5 hours of real work. Use the daily counter to find your own number rather than aiming for a record.

Is my data sent anywhere?

No. Everything is stored in your browser’s local storage on your device.

Can I use it for work, not just study?

Of course. The same rhythm works for writing, coding or any task that benefits from short, deliberate blocks.