15 Minute Timer
Free online 15-minute focus timer. No signup required.
About the 15-Minute Timer
A 15 minute timer hits the sweet spot between a quick sprint and a real focus session. Research shows that even 15 minutes of focused study is more effective than an hour of distracted half-attention. Many students use 15-minute sessions as a stepping stone — once the habit sticks, they naturally extend to 25 or 50 minutes. It's also the recommended long break duration in the classic Pomodoro Technique (after completing 4 pomodoros).
Best for
Pomodoro long breaks, beginner study sessions, timed reading
Tips for Your 15-Minute Session
- Use as your long break after 4 Pomodoro sessions — walk, snack, or stretch
- 15 minutes is enough to review one chapter of notes or complete a set of practice problems
- Try the '15-minute rule': commit to just 15 minutes of studying — you'll often keep going
The 15-Minute Rule for Procrastinators
There's a reason therapists and productivity coaches keep recommending the 15-minute rule: commit to any dreaded task for exactly 15 minutes, with permission to quit when the timer rings. Almost nobody quits. Fifteen minutes is long enough to get past the ugly first phase of a task — opening the document, finding your notes, remembering where you left off — which is where most procrastination actually lives. It's also a genuinely useful block on its own: one chapter of revision notes, a full set of practice problems, or a solid warm-up before a longer deep work session. If you're timing reading, most people get through 8-12 pages of a novel or 4-6 pages of a dense textbook in 15 minutes.
Prefer some background sound? Try the 15 minute timer with music — the same countdown with lo-fi beats, rain sounds, fireplace, or white noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 15-minute rule?
You commit to working on a task for exactly 15 minutes, with full permission to stop when the timer rings. Because the commitment is small, your brain doesn't resist starting — and once started, most people continue well past the 15-minute mark.
Is 15 minutes the right long-break length for Pomodoro?
The classic Pomodoro Technique recommends a 15-30 minute long break after every four pomodoros. Fifteen minutes sits at the short end — enough for a walk or a snack while keeping your momentum for the next round of sessions.
How many pages can I read in 15 minutes?
At an average reading speed of 200-250 words per minute, roughly 8-12 pages of a novel or 4-6 pages of a dense textbook. Timing your reading in 15-minute blocks also makes it easy to measure and improve your pace over a semester.
Can I run this timer full screen?
Yes — the timer is designed to stay visible and readable from across a room, so you can use it on a second monitor or tablet as a dedicated countdown display.
Want to track your progress?
Sign up for Peazehub to save your sessions, build streaks, compete on leaderboards, and join study groups. All for a one-time payment of $9.99.