Pomodoro Timer

A free, no-sign-up Pomodoro timer for focused studying: 25-minute sprints, automatic breaks, customisable lengths, and a sprint counter.

This is a working Pomodoro timer you can use right now. Press start for a 25-minute focus sprint; when it ends, the timer switches to a 5-minute break automatically. After four sprints you get a longer break. Adjust any of the lengths to suit you.

How to use the Pomodoro timer

1. Pick one task and clear distractions — phone away, one browser tab.
2. Press Start and work until the 25-minute focus sprint ends.
3. Take the 5-minute break the timer gives you; stand up and look away from the screen.
4. After four sprints, take the longer 15–30 minute break.

The technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after the tomato-shaped (pomodoro in Italian) kitchen timer he used as a student. The structure works because a fixed, short commitment is easy to start — which defeats procrastination — while the countdown adds gentle time pressure and the guaranteed break removes the urge to check your phone mid-task.

Related tools & guides

Last updated 20 June 2026 · By Mustafa Bilgic, editor of Arsenal.College.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Pomodoro timer keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The timer keeps counting in the background as long as the tab stays open, though some browsers slow background tabs slightly. For accuracy, leave this tab visible while you study.

Can I change the 25-minute length?

Yes. Edit the focus, short-break, and long-break fields to any length, then press Reset to apply them. Many students prefer 50-minute focus sprints with 10-minute breaks.

Why a long break after four sprints?

Four focus sprints is roughly two hours of concentrated work, which is about the limit before attention fades. The longer 15–30 minute break lets your mind fully recover before the next cycle.