Pomodoro Timer: Focus in 25-Minute Blocks

What is a Pomodoro timer?

A Pomodoro timer is a countdown that splits work into fixed blocks separated by short breaks. In the classic setup you focus for 25 minutes, rest for 5, and after four rounds take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. If you have wondered what is a pomodoro timer for, the answer is simple: it turns "work until I feel done" into a small, finishable unit.

The method is credited to Francesco Cirillo, who named it after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used (pomodoro is Italian for tomato). His official site is linked in the sources; this page is an independent tool and not affiliated with it.

This free online pomodoro timer is the timer half of the method. The other half is up to you: decide what one block is for before you press Start.

How does the Pomodoro technique timer work?

The Pomodoro technique timer runs a loop: one focus block on one task, a short break, and a longer break after every fourth block. You don't multitask inside a block.

1. Pick one task and type it into the label field if it helps.
2. Press Start and work on that task only, until the chime.
3. Take the short break away from the screen. The break is part of the method, not a reward you skip.
4. Repeat. After the set number of focus blocks (four by default) the timer offers a long break.
5. Stop when the plan is done, not when the timer runs out of cycles.

The pomodoro method timer only helps if the block is small enough to finish. If a task obviously needs three blocks, say so up front and count them as you go.

Does a Pomodoro timer online keep working in a background tab?

Yes, this one does. A pomodoro timer online lives in a browser tab, and browsers slow down timers in hidden tabs to save battery. A timer that simply adds one second per tick would then run slow. This timer stores an absolute end time and recomputes what is left from the clock on every check, so throttling can delay a redraw but cannot change the answer.

// start
deadline = Date.now() + remainingMs
// every check, however late it runs
remaining = Math.max(0, deadline - Date.now())

There are two honest limits. Browsers may run a hidden tab's timer late; Chrome, for example, can check some timers only about once a minute after a tab has been hidden for a while, as described in the Chrome and MDN pages in the sources. So the chime for a hidden tab can arrive up to that much late, but the time shown when you look is right. And if you close the tab or the computer sleeps through the end, nothing can ring; the clock is correct the moment the page wakes.

What should you do during a Pomodoro break?

Do something that lets your eyes and attention rest: stand up, drink water, stretch, look out of a window. Avoid feeds and email.

Switch auto-start off if you tend to miss breaks, because the next focus block would begin whether you are back or not.

When is 25 minutes the wrong length?

25 minutes is wrong when you spend most of the block getting started or when it cuts you off just as you settle. There is no proven ideal length for everyone, so treat 25/5 as a starting point and adjust one number at a time for a few days.

The timer accepts focus lengths from 1 to 180 minutes, short breaks up to 60, and long breaks up to 90. Change a number in Settings; a phase that hasn't started updates straight away.

A shorter or longer block will not fix an unclear task. Spend the first block writing down what "done" looks like.

How to use a Pomodoro study timer

A pomodoro study timer works best when each block has one narrow goal, such as "do practice questions 1 to 10" rather than "study chemistry". Match the block to the kind of work: active recall and problem sets suit shorter blocks, while reading a hard chapter may need longer ones.

• Write the goal of the block in the task field before you start.
• Use the break to move, and note down anything you wanted to look up instead of looking it up.
• End the day with the count. The session counter shows blocks finished today, which is a plain measure of time on task.

If you'd like a distraction blocker running alongside the timer, see our guide to website blocker extensions and the to-do list extensions that pair well with a timer.

Is a Pomodoro timer for ADHD worth trying?

It can be worth trying, and it is easy to adjust. Some people with ADHD find that an external timer makes a task feel finite and gives a clear start, while others find rigid blocks stressful. We can't say which group you're in, and a timer is not a treatment. Talk to a clinician about attention support.

If you try a pomodoro timer for adhd, treat the defaults as suggestions and experiment safely:

• Shorten the first block. Ten or fifteen minutes lowers the cost of starting.
• Use the pause button freely. Pausing is not failing; the timer just waits.
• Expect uneven focus. If you get absorbed, you can extend by pausing, not skipping, and finishing the thought.
• Turn off auto-start if a surprise start would feel jarring, and turn the chime on if you lose track of time.

Using the timer for deep work, meetings and interruptions

Use the timer to protect one block at a time, and plan for interruptions. When someone interrupts, you can defer it ("after this block"), delegate it, or pause the timer and deal with it. Pause rather than let the clock run down while you talk.

• Meetings and calls don't fit a 25-minute rhythm; use the timer for the gaps between them and set a block that ends before the next call.
• Shared offices: a visible tab title or a headphones-on habit tells people you're mid-block.

Add a task label above the clock. It appears while you focus and is never saved, which makes it a reminder rather than a log.

What is the best Pomodoro timer: web page, app or extension?

The best pomodoro timer is the one you'll actually see, so pick where it lives. A web page like this needs no install and works on any device with a browser. An app can sync tasks and ring with the browser closed; a Chrome extension can sit in your toolbar and block distracting sites.

If you want the timer to live in your toolbar, our list of timer extensions compares the options, and it helps to know what the notifications permission allows before you install one. Two blockers that pair well with a timer are below.

Why is my chime or notification not working?

Usually the browser is blocking sound until you interact with the page, or notifications were denied. Press Start or Play chime once so the browser allows audio, then check the list below.

• No sound: the browser only allows audio after a click or key press on the page. Use Play chime to test it and check the tab isn't muted.
• Notification checkbox turns itself off: permission was denied. Allow notifications for this site in your browser's site settings, then tick the box again.
• Timer late when returning to a hidden tab: the clock is right on return; only the alert could arrive late.
• Settings won't save: private windows or blocked site data can prevent it. The timer works either way.

Nothing on this page needs a network connection after it loads, and no timer data is sent anywhere.