Meditation Timer
A simple, free timer for sitting meditation. Choose a length, press start, and a soft bell marks the end — so you can rest your attention on the practice rather than the clock. Pairs with our guides to how to meditate and how long to meditate.
Why a timer helps
Deciding the length before you sit removes one of the mind’s favourite distractions: wondering whether it is time to stop. The Buddha’s instructions for mindfulness of breathing in the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118) begin with simply sitting down, setting the body upright and turning attention to the breath; a timer lets that be the whole task. When the bell sounds, finish the breath you are on, notice how the mind feels, and then get up.
If you want to build a habit, the Meditation Journal logs each sit privately in your browser, and the Breathing Pacer can steady the breath before you begin. For the traditions’ own approaches to sitting, see Buddhist meditation.
Frequently asked questions
Is this meditation timer free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser with no account, no sign-up and no tracking. Choose a length, press start, and a soft bell marks the end of the sit.
How long should I meditate?
Start with five to ten minutes once a day and let it grow. Consistency matters more than length: a short daily sit builds the habit that longer occasional sits do not. Our guide on how long to meditate goes into the detail.
Does the timer make a sound?
A soft bell sounds when you press Begin and again when the time is up. Nothing plays until you start, and the tone is synthesised in your browser — nothing is downloaded.
Can I use it for any kind of meditation?
Yes. It is a neutral timer for breath meditation, loving-kindness, body scan, walking meditation or silent sitting. If you are new, our step-by-step guide to how to meditate pairs well with it.
Does it keep a record of my sits?
The timer itself keeps nothing. If you want a streak and a history, the Meditation Journal saves your sits privately in your own browser.
Sources
- Ānāpānassati Sutta (MN 118), SuttaCentral — translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0) — the seated instruction this page describes: one "sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and brings mindfulness to the present. Just mindful, they breathe in. Mindful, they breathe out." (MN 118:17.1–17.2). The sutta sets no length for a sit; the timer only marks the one you choose.
- Nava Sutta (SN 22.101), Access to Insight (trans. Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu) — the adze-handle simile: a carpenter cannot see the handle wearing down on any given day, yet "knows it is worn through when it is worn through". That is why steady daily sitting is worth keeping up when nothing seems to change. The sutta prescribes no session length; the "consistency over duration" answer in the FAQ above is ours, not the sutta's.