Pomodoro Timer

Focus, Break, Repeat. Boost your productivity.

25:00
Pomodoros done: 0 · long break after every 4

Missing a tool?

Tell us what you'd like us to build next. We read every suggestion, and your email is optional.

What this tool does

This Pomodoro Timer runs 25-minute focus sessions and the breaks between them, rings a bell when time is up, and counts the pomodoros you finish so it can offer a long break after every fourth.

How the Pomodoro Technique works

Francesco Cirillo developed the technique in the late 1980s and named it after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer (pomodoro is Italian for tomato). In his book, the cycle is:

  1. Pick one task.
  2. Work on it for 25 minutes without interruptions: one pomodoro.
  3. Take a short break of 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. After four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The timer's defaults follow this: 25 minutes of focus, a 5-minute short break and a 15-minute long break.

How to use the timer

  • Press Start; press it again to pause. Reset restarts the current session.
  • When a pomodoro ends, the timer switches to the right break for you. After a break, it switches back to Pomodoro. Press Start when you're ready.
  • Custom sets any length in minutes.
  • Notify me asks your browser for permission to show a notification when time is up, which helps if the tab is in the background.

The timer keeps accurate time in a background tab: it counts down to a fixed end time instead of counting ticks, which browsers slow down in hidden tabs.

Tips

  • If something comes to mind mid-pomodoro, write it down and get back to the task.
  • Use breaks to step away: stand up, stretch, get some water.
  • If 25 minutes feels too short for deep work, try longer sessions with Custom. What matters most is a steady rhythm.

A sample two-hour session

  • 0:00 to 0:25: pomodoro 1. 0:25 to 0:30: short break.
  • 0:30 to 0:55: pomodoro 2. 0:55 to 1:00: short break.
  • 1:00 to 1:25: pomodoro 3. 1:25 to 1:30: short break.
  • 1:30 to 1:55: pomodoro 4, then a long break of 15 to 30 minutes.

Before starting, write down what you'll work on and roughly how many pomodoros each task needs. Split big tasks into pieces that fit in a few pomodoros; small ones can share a pomodoro.

Frequently asked questions

Why 25 minutes?

Cirillo settled on 25 minutes after experimenting: long enough to make real progress, short enough to stay focused. Many people use other lengths, such as 50 minutes of work and 10 of rest.

Do I need to keep the page open?

Yes, keep the tab open; it can be in the background. The count of pomodoros resets when you reload the page.

What if someone interrupts me?

Cirillo's book suggests a routine for interruptions from other people: inform them you're busy, negotiate a time, schedule it, and call them back when the pomodoro ends. For your own urges, like checking email, jot them down and carry on. If you really have to stop, that pomodoro doesn't count: reset and start a fresh one later.

Related tools: Word Count & Read Time and Unit Converter.

Sources: Francesco Cirillo, The Pomodoro Technique (the technique's original book), via francescocirillo.com; Chrome for Developers, Heavy throttling of chained JS timers. Last reviewed on SuiteWebTools: October 2026.