Pomodoro Timer
25/5 focus timer with auto breaks, tasks and today's count. Runs in your browser.
About this pomodoro timer
This Pomodoro timer runs focus sessions and breaks for you: 25 minutes of work, a 5 minute break, and a 15 minute break after every fourth session. It's built for students, writers, developers and anyone who works better in short, timed blocks.
Press Start focus and forget about the clock. When the session ends a sound plays and the break starts by itself. When the break ends, the next focus session waits for you, or starts on its own if you prefer. You can change every length, or pick a preset like 50/10 or 52/17.
Add the task you're on and each finished session counts toward it. Today's sessions and focus time are tallied below the timer. Nothing needs an account, and nothing leaves your browser.
Features
Automatic cycles
Focus, short break, focus, and a long break after the number of sessions you choose (4 by default). Separate switches to auto-start breaks and auto-start focus.
Presets and custom lengths
Classic 25/5/15, 50/10/30, 52/17, deep work 90/20 and short 15/3/10 sprints. Or set focus from 1 to 180 minutes and breaks to taste.
Sound that's on time
The end-of-phase sound is scheduled on the audio clock when a phase starts, so it plays on time in a background tab. Five sounds, a volume slider and Test sound.
Tasks with estimates
Add tasks with the number of sessions you expect. Finished sessions add up on the active task, and the timer estimates the clock time you'll finish your list.
Today at a glance
Sessions completed today and total focus time, reset automatically each day.
Focus helpers
Full screen, Keep screen on, desktop notifications on request, and the phase and time left in the tab title.
Shortcuts and links
Space starts and pauses, S skips, R resets the phase. Custom lengths go in the address, like ?focus=50&short=10&long=30, so you can bookmark your setup.
How to use the pomodoro timer
- 1Pick a preset such as 25/5/15, or set your own focus and break lengths.
- 2Add the task you're working on, then press Start focus.
- 3Breaks start on their own after each session. Check today's count below.
When to use it
Studying for exams
Four 25 minute sessions with a long break makes a solid two hour block. Put the subject in the task list and see how many sessions each one really takes.
Writing
One session per section of an essay or chapter. Check your progress afterwards with the word counter.
Coding and deep work
Switch to 50/10 or 90/20 for problems that need longer to load into your head. Park stray thoughts in the online notepad instead of switching tabs.
Chores and admin
Email, invoices, cleaning. A 15 minute sprint makes a boring task feel finite, and the break is your reward.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
It's a time management method created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, while he was a university student. He timed himself with a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, pomodoro in Italian, which gave the method its name. Each 25 minute work block is one pomodoro.
The rules are short. Pick one task. Work on it until the timer rings, with no switching. Take a short break of 3 to 5 minutes. After four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. If something urgent pops into your head, write it down and get back to the task.
The method works for many people because a fixed end time makes starting easier, and regular breaks keep tired focus from turning into busywork. It isn't magic, and if 25 minutes breaks your flow, change the length.
Is 25 minutes the best length? 25/5 vs 50/10 vs 52/17
There's no single right number. 25/5 is the classic and a good start, especially for tasks you're avoiding. Longer sessions suit work with a long warm-up, like debugging or writing a tricky argument. The presets here cover the common choices:
- 25 / 5, long break 15 after 4: the original rhythm. About 1 hour 55 minutes for four sessions with breaks.
- 50 / 10, long break 30 after 3: fewer interruptions for deep work.
- 52 / 17: popularised by a 2014 time-tracking study of office workers' habits.
- 90 / 20: one long block, then a proper rest. Two rounds make a solid morning.
- 15 / 3: short sprints for low energy days or very young students.
What should I do during a Pomodoro break?
Step away from the screen. Stand up, stretch, refill your water, look at something far away for a minute. Avoid starting anything you can't drop in 5 minutes, like a message thread or a video. On a long break, take a short walk or eat something.
If you can't stop mid-thought when the timer rings, jot down your next step before the break. It makes restarting much easier.
Why use Mavros
| Mavros | Typical upload sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Account needed | No | Often for reports or tasks |
| Sound in a background tab | Scheduled on the audio clock | Can be late or silent |
| Auto-start control | Separate for breaks and focus | One switch or none |
| Long break rhythm | Any count from 1 to 12 | Fixed at 4 |
| Task estimates | Free, with finish time | Limited on free plans |
| Data | Stays in your browser | Stored on their servers |
Tips
- Turn off Start focus automatically if you like a moment to reset after a break. Leave Start breaks automatically on so you actually take them.
- Use Skip for a break you don't need. Skipped focus sessions aren't added to today's count or your task.
- Changing a length applies to the next phase. Press Reset to restart the current phase with the new length.
- For a single plain countdown, the online timer is simpler. To time how long a task really took, use the stopwatch.
Questions
What is a Pomodoro timer?
A timer that alternates focus sessions and breaks, usually 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest, with a longer break after four sessions. This one switches phases for you and rings at each change.
How long is a Pomodoro?
Traditionally 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a 3 to 5 minute break. After four pomodoros you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Can I change the focus and break lengths?
Yes. Pick a preset or type your own: focus from 1 to 180 minutes, breaks up to 60 or 90 minutes, and a long break after 1 to 12 sessions. Your settings are remembered in this browser.
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. Each phase has a fixed end time and its sound is scheduled when it starts, so it rings on time in a background tab. If your device sleeps, the timer moves to the next phase when it wakes.
Do breaks start automatically?
By default breaks start on their own and focus waits for you. Both are switches in the settings, so you can make the whole cycle automatic or fully manual.
What is the 52/17 rule?
Work for 52 minutes, then rest for 17. It comes from a 2014 time-tracking study of how the most productive office workers spaced their breaks. Pick the 52 / 17 preset to try it.
How many pomodoros should I do in a day?
There's no fixed target. Eight 25 minute sessions is 3 hours 20 minutes of focused work, which is a strong day for most desk jobs. Start with fewer, watch the count under the timer, and adjust.
Are my tasks saved?
Yes, in this browser's local storage, along with today's count and your settings. Nothing is uploaded, and another browser or device won't see them.