20 minutes Timer
Press start. It counts down to zero and rings an alarm — nothing to download, nothing to sign up for.
About this 20 minutes timer
This is a straightforward 20 minutes countdown you can start in one click. It's built to run entirely in your browser, so there's no app to install and no account to create — just open the page and press Start whenever you need it.
People commonly use it for a short nap, a study sprint before a break, or letting food rest after cooking. The countdown keeps accurate time even if you switch to another tab or your browser is minimized, and it plays an alarm sound the moment it reaches zero.
The optimal nap length
Twenty minutes is the nap length sleep researchers most often recommend. It keeps you in the lighter stages of sleep, so you get the alertness benefit without waking mid-deep-sleep and feeling worse than before — the grogginess known as sleep inertia. It's also a solid study sprint and the standard rest for a roast before carving.
20 minutes in other units
| Minutes | 20 |
|---|---|
| Seconds | 1,200 |
| Hours | 0.33 |
| Milliseconds | 1,200,000 |
Tips for using a 20 minutes timer
- For a power nap, 20 minutes is the ceiling before you risk deep sleep and wake up groggy.
- Nap earlier in the day — after about 3pm it starts eating into your night's sleep.
- Resting meat for 20 minutes after roasting lets juices redistribute; slicing early loses them to the board.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a 20 minutes timer?
Press Start above and this page counts down from 20 minutes automatically — no need to type anything in. If you want a different length, use the Add 1 Minute button while it's running, or pick another duration below.
Will the timer still work if I switch tabs?
Yes. The countdown is based on your computer's clock, not a simple on-screen tick, so it stays accurate even if this tab is in the background or your browser throttles it. The alarm still fires when time's up.
Does it make a sound when time is up?
Yes, if the sound toggle is checked (it is by default). The alarm plays right in your browser — no app or download needed. Some browsers require one click on the page first before audio is allowed to play.
What is a 20 minutes timer good for?
People commonly use a 20 minutes timer for a short nap, a study sprint before a break, or letting food rest after cooking. It works the same as a kitchen timer or phone stopwatch, just faster to reach — no app to open, no ads to close.