20 Second Timer
One click to startAlarm at zeroKeeps time in the background
Time's up
Space to start or pause, R to reset, F for full screen.
Twenty seconds is how long the CDC says to scrub your hands with soap, and it is longer than most people manage. Press Start, lather up and keep going until it beeps.
What people use a 20 second timer for
- Washing your hands: the backs, between the fingers and under the nails, until the beep.
- The 20-20-20 rule for screens: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- The work part of a Tabata round, which is 20 seconds hard and 10 seconds easy.
- Holding a stretch. Somewhere between 10 and 30 seconds is the usual advice.
How this timer works
- It remembers the moment it will end, so it stays right when you switch tabs or your phone locks.
- At zero it plays a few short beeps, vibrates on phones that can, and shows "Time's up" in the tab title.
- While it runs it asks the screen to stay on. Full screen makes the numbers big enough to read across a room.
Other timers
Questions people ask
How long should you wash your hands?
At least 20 seconds with soap and water, says the CDC. Humming "Happy Birthday" twice takes about that long, if you would rather not watch a clock.
Can I use it for a whole Tabata workout?
It times one 20-second interval and then stops; it does not loop between work and rest. For the full four minutes the 4 minute timer is simpler: start it once and switch between 20 seconds on and 10 off yourself.
Does the timer work without an internet connection?
Once the page has loaded, yes. The timer runs in your browser and does not need the network to count down or to beep.
Counting down to a date rather than a few minutes? The countdown maker works for any day, and with Pro the Countdown app puts it on your iPhone Lock Screen.