ToolPetal
Pomodoro timer
- Runs on your device
- Nothing uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
Timer settings
How to use the Pomodoro timer
- Pick one task. Decide what you will work on before you press Start.
- Focus for 25 minutes. Press Start and work until the chime. If something else comes up, write it down and get back to the task.
- Take a 5 minute break. Stand up, stretch or get water. The break starts by itself unless you turn that off in settings.
- Every 4 Pomodoros, take a long break of 15 to 30 minutes, then start again.
Worked example: a 2 hour study block
| Time | Session | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Focus 1 | 25 min |
| 0:25 | Short break | 5 min |
| 0:30 | Focus 2 | 25 min |
| 0:55 | Short break | 5 min |
| 1:00 | Focus 3 | 25 min |
| 1:25 | Short break | 5 min |
| 1:30 | Focus 4 | 25 min |
| 1:55 | Long break | 15 min |
That is 100 minutes of focused work and 30 minutes of breaks in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. He named it after the tomato shaped kitchen timer he used as a student. Work is split into short, timed sessions with regular breaks, which makes big tasks easier to start and helps you notice where your time goes.
Other timer lengths
- 25 / 5 / 15: the classic setup and a good place to start.
- 50 / 10 / 30: longer sessions for deep work once 25 minutes feels short.
- 52 / 17: a work and break rhythm made popular by a time tracking study.
- 90 / 20: one long block, close to the length many people can focus for.
Good to know
- The timer counts from the clock, so it stays accurate if you switch tabs. The time left shows in the tab title.
- Some browsers mute sound from background tabs until you have clicked on the page once, so press Start yourself rather than relying on a page left open from earlier.
- If you close or reload the page, the current session stops. Your settings are kept.
Questions
How long is a Pomodoro?
A classic Pomodoro is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. After 4 Pomodoros you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Can I change the timer lengths?
Yes. Open Timer settings to set focus, short break and long break lengths from 1 to 180 minutes, and choose after how many sessions the long break comes.
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer works from the clock time, so it stays accurate in a background tab, and the countdown shows in the tab title. Turn on notifications to get an alert when a session ends while you are on another tab.
Does it save my settings?
Yes. Your lengths, sound and auto start choices are saved in your own browser storage on this device. Nothing is sent to a server, and there is no account.
Why did I not hear the chime?
Check that Chime when time is up is ticked and the volume is above zero, and use Test chime. Browsers only play sound after you have interacted with the page, and a muted tab or device stays silent.
What should I do on a Pomodoro break?
Step away from the task. Stand up, stretch, refill your water or look out of a window. Try to avoid starting something new, such as email, that is hard to stop after 5 minutes.