Pomodoro Timer
The Pomodoro Technique splits work into 25-minute focus sessions separated by 5-minute breaks, with a longer 15-minute break after every four sessions. This free Pomodoro timer runs those intervals in your browser, shows the time left on a progress ring and counts which of the four focus sessions you are on.
How to use the Pomodoro Timer
- Choose Focus (25 minutes), Short break (5 minutes) or Long break (15 minutes).
- Press Start and work on one task until the ring runs out.
- Pause and Resume if you are interrupted; Reset starts the current interval again.
- After each focus session take a short break, and after four take the long break.
Formula
4 × (25 min focus + 5 min break), then a 15 min long breakThe timer counts down against the clock (performance.now), so it stays accurate even if the page is busy. The session counter advances each time a focus interval reaches zero.
The classic cycle
- Focus for 25 minutes on a single task
- Take a 5 minute break away from the screen
- Repeat four times
- Take a 15 to 30 minute long break
- Start a new cycle
Where the name comes from
Francesco Cirillo developed the method in the late 1980s using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. Pomodoro is Italian for tomato, and each 25-minute interval is called a pomodoro.
Pomodoro Timer questions
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
It is a time management method that breaks work into 25-minute focus intervals, called pomodoros, separated by 5-minute breaks. After four pomodoros you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Francesco Cirillo created it in the late 1980s, naming it after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer.
How long are the Pomodoro breaks?
Short breaks are 5 minutes and come after every focus session. After four sessions, take a long break of 15 to 30 minutes; this timer's Long break is 15 minutes. Step away from your desk during breaks so your attention can recover.
How many pomodoros should I do in a day?
Most people sustain 8 to 12 pomodoros, about 4 to 6 hours of focused work, alongside meetings and email. If you are new to the method, start with 4 to 6 a day and add more as the habit builds. Focus quality matters more than the count.
What should I do during a Pomodoro break?
Do something that rests your attention: stand up, stretch, walk, drink water or look out of a window. Avoid email, messages and social media, which pull you back into work mode. Use the long break for a proper meal or a walk outside.
What if I get interrupted during a pomodoro?
If it can wait, note it down and deal with it in the next break. If it cannot, pause the timer, handle it and resume, or reset and start a fresh pomodoro if the interruption was long. The aim is to protect focus time, not to follow the rules rigidly.
Can I use different intervals than 25 and 5 minutes?
Yes, many people adapt the intervals: 50 minutes of work with 10-minute breaks for deep work, or shorter blocks when starting out. The principle stays the same, fixed focus blocks with planned breaks. This timer uses the classic 25, 5 and 15 minute settings.
Is the Pomodoro Technique good for studying?
Yes. Short, timed sessions make it easier to start, reduce procrastination and build in regular rest, which helps memory consolidation. Assign each pomodoro a specific goal, such as one chapter or ten practice questions, and review what you covered during the long break.