3 minute timer
Focus
25:00Three minutes is a classic kitchen countdown: a pot of tea, a soft-boiled egg, instant noodles. It is also a perfect micro-break. The timer above is set to 3 minutes and starts with one click or the Space bar.
In the kitchen
- Black tea: 3 to 5 minutes. Herbal tea: 5 or more. Green tea: 2 to 3 minutes.
- Soft-boiled egg: about 3 minutes for a very runny yolk (6 to 7 minutes for a jammy one).
- Instant noodles, couscous resting time, or searing a steak on each side.
- Letting a French press brew before you plunge (usually 3 to 4 minutes).
A three-minute reset for your brain
Short breaks don't need to be long to work. Three minutes of looking away from the screen, breathing slowly or walking around the room is enough to relax your eyes and let your attention recover a little. It is a good fit between two meetings, or when a full 5-minute Pomodoro break feels like too much.
Try the 3-3-3 pause: 3 slow breaths, 3 things you can see, 3 things you can hear. The alarm tells you when to come back.
How the Pomodoro timer works
Four simple steps. No account, nothing to install: it runs right here in your browser.
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Pick what to work on
Add a task and estimate how many pomodoros it needs. The active task is credited automatically when a session ends.
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Start the timer
Press Start (or the Space bar) and give the task your full attention until the bell rings.
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Take a real break
Step away from the screen for 5 minutes. Stretch, drink some water, rest your eyes.
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Repeat, then rest longer
After four pomodoros, take a longer 15–30 minute break. Your stats and streak update on their own.
Everything you need to focus. Nothing you don't.
A calm, distraction-free timer with the tools serious students and makers actually use.
Pomodoro, Flowtime & countdowns
Classic 25/5, 50/10 or your own durations, a count-up Flowtime mode and simple countdowns, exact even in background tabs.
Ambient sounds & lofi
Layer rain, café or forest sounds, brown noise or 40 Hz binaural beats, and add lofi radio or your own Spotify playlist.
Tasks, projects & templates
A to-do list under the timer: pomodoro estimates, notes, subtasks, projects and reusable templates. See when you'll be done.
Stats, streaks & badges
Daily goal, charts, a year heatmap, time per project, session history with CSV export and 100+ badges to unlock.
Study rooms with friends
Create a room, share the link and focus on one shared timer. See who's working and cheer each other on.
Floating timer
Pop the timer out into an always-on-top mini window while you work in other apps.
Scenes, clocks & themes
Dial, flip clock or kitchen timer. Animated scenes or your own photo, snow or sakura effects, light, dark and any colour.
Keyboard shortcuts
Space to start, R to reset, S to skip, F for fullscreen. Your hands never leave the keyboard.
Private by design
No sign-up, no ads, no tracking of your work. Your tasks and stats stay in your browser, exportable anytime.
Related timers
Each timer below is the same full-featured app, preset for a specific method or duration.
Methods
Countdown timers
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a 3 minute timer?
Press Start or the Space bar: the countdown is already set to 3 minutes. Click another chip or type a number of minutes to change it.
Can I keep the timer visible while I cook?
Yes. Press F for fullscreen, or add the site to your phone's home screen. The screen stays awake while the timer runs.
Does the timer work offline?
Once you've visited the site, you can install it as an app, and it keeps working without a connection.
Learn to focus better
Science-backed guides on the Pomodoro Technique, studying and deep work.
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How Long Should You Study Without a Break?
The short answer first, then the nuance: what studies on study breaks actually found, how long a break should be, the signs you need one, and how to find your own rhythm.
12 min readThe Science Behind Pomodoro: What Research Does and Doesn't Show
An honest look at the evidence: the few studies that tested the Pomodoro Technique, what research on breaks and attention suggests, and the popular claims that don't hold up.
12 min readHow to Use the Pomodoro Technique at Work
A practical guide for knowledge workers, freelancers and remote workers: plan your day in pomodoros, estimate tasks, handle interruptions and meetings, and protect your focus.