Free Classroom Timer
A free full-screen countdown timer for the classroom, with digits large enough to read from the back of the room, one-tap presets and an end signal you can mute. It runs entirely in your browser — no account, no download.
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Free forever
5:00
5 minutes 0 seconds remaining
How teachers use a classroom timer
A timer on the board turns "you have a few more minutes" into something the whole class can see. Children stop asking how long is left, because the answer is on the wall — and the pace of the lesson becomes a shared fact rather than an argument.
The most common use is simply bounding a task: five minutes for a starter, ten for independent writing, two for tidying up. Because the count is visible, children learn to pace themselves against it, which is a genuinely useful skill and one that transfers to tests later on.
- Timed starters and retrieval practice at the beginning of a lesson
- Independent work blocks, so children can see how long they have left
- Talk partner discussions — one minute each, no arguing about turns
- Tidy-up countdowns, which turn a chore into a race the class can win
- Transitions between carousel or station activities
- Timed reading or times-tables challenges
Why a big timer beats a phone timer
A phone on your desk tells you the time is up. A timer on the board tells thirty children at once, which is the part that changes behaviour. This timer is built for projection: the digits scale with the screen, the contrast is high enough for a washed-out interactive whiteboard, and full-screen mode strips away everything else.
The end signal is audible but short. If your class is in a shared space, or you have a child who finds sudden sounds difficult, mute it — the digits turning red do the same job without the noise.
A note on younger children and EAL learners
For children who are still building a sense of how long a minute is, say the time out loud as you set it and point at the digits: "Five minutes. When it says zero, pencils down." Repeating the same phrasing every lesson gives EAL learners a routine they can follow without needing to decode new instructions each time.
Shorter timers work better than longer ones with younger classes. Two lots of five minutes with a check-in between them holds attention far more reliably than a single ten-minute block.
Frequently asked questions
Is this classroom timer really free?
Yes. It is completely free, with no account, no signup and no limit on how often you use it. There are no adverts on the page either.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The countdown is worked out from the clock rather than counted frame by frame, so it stays accurate if you switch to another tab or another app and come back.
Can I turn the sound off?
Yes. There is a mute button next to the timer. With the sound off, the display still changes colour and flashes when time runs out, so the class can see the end of the countdown without hearing it.
Will it work on my interactive whiteboard?
It works in any modern browser, including the browsers built into Promethean and SMART boards. Press the full-screen button for the largest possible digits, and tap the controls directly on the board — every button is large enough to hit with a finger.
Can I set a custom time?
Yes. As well as the 1, 2, 5 and 10 minute presets you can type any number of minutes and seconds. Your last setting is remembered on the device you used, so the timer opens ready to go next lesson.