25 Minute Timer — the Classic Pomodoro

This is a free 25 minute timer, preset to the classic Pomodoro interval. Press play, work on one thing until the ring closes, then take the 5 minute break. A soft chime and a screen pulse mark the end of every session, and the pop-out button keeps the countdown floating above your other windows.

Why 25 minutes?

When Francesco Cirillo developed the Pomodoro Technique in the late 1980s, he settled on 25 minutes because it balances two opposing forces: it's short enough that starting feels easy — anyone can commit to 25 minutes — yet long enough to make real progress on a task. The interval also gives distractions a place to wait: when something pops into your head, you note it and carry on, because the break is never more than 25 minutes away.

How to run a Pomodoro day

1. Write down the task you'll work on — one task per session.
2. Start the 25 minute timer and work until it chimes. No email, no feeds.
3. Take the 5 minute break away from the screen.
4. Every fourth session, take a longer break of 15–30 minutes.

Most people manage 8–12 good pomodoros in a full work day — that's 4–6 hours of genuinely focused work, which is more than most unstructured days contain.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use exactly 25 minutes?

No — 25 is a convention, not a law. The +5 and −5 buttons adjust the length, and if you prefer longer blocks try the 45 minute timer or a 90 minute deep-work block. Consistency matters more than the exact number.

What counts as a finished Pomodoro?

A session where you worked on the chosen task until the chime. If you abandon it halfway, it doesn't count — that rule is what gives the technique its teeth.