Tip: drag the edge of the disc to set the time.
Space start / pause · R reset · F fullscreen
About this visual timer
A visual timer shows time as a shape, not only as numbers. This one draws a big colored disc on a clock face. When you press Start, the disc gets smaller as the minutes go by. When the color is gone, the time is up.
It works like the red-disc timers many teachers keep on their desk, but it is free, it fills the classroom screen, and you set it with one click. Children who cannot read a clock yet can still see how much time is left: a big slice means lots of time, a thin slice means "almost done".
Features
- One-click times — 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes, or type any time up to 60 minutes
- Drag to set — drag the edge of the disc to the time you want, like turning a real timer
- 8 disc styles — Red classic, Blue, Green, Rainbow, Traffic light, Dark, Chalkboard and Pastel
- Your face, your way — show or hide the digits, the tick marks and the numbers
- End sound — a bell, a gentle chime, a beep or a digital watch, or no sound at all
- Fullscreen — the disc fills a projector, smart board or TV
- Keeps the screen on while it runs, and shows the time left in the browser tab
- Remembers your settings on this device
Why a visual timer helps in class
Time is hard to see. A minute feels long to one child and short to another, and "five more minutes" means little to a child who cannot read a clock yet. A shrinking disc turns time into something the whole class can watch:
- Fewer "how long?" questions — the answer is on the screen, so the teacher does not have to repeat it.
- Smoother changes between activities — when the disc is almost gone, children can start to finish, tidy up or line up before the sound plays.
- The same for everyone — the whole room sees the same time, big enough to read from the back.
- No reading needed — it works for young learners and for students who are still learning the language.
- A feel for time — after a few days, many children start to know how long 5 or 10 minutes really is.
Many teachers and parents like visual timers for these reasons. Try it for a week and see what works for your group.
Ideas for using it
| Time | Ideas |
|---|---|
| 1–2 minutes | Tidy-up time, a quick stretch, think time before answers, brushing teeth |
| 5 minutes | Warm-up questions, a short brain break, packing bags, switching reading partners |
| 10–15 minutes | Silent reading, a worksheet, centers or stations, group work |
| 20–30 minutes | A test section, a project block, homework time at home |
| 45–60 minutes | A full lesson, an exam, a long study session, a screen-time limit |
- At home — "When the red is gone, it is time for bed", or to turn off the tablet, or to put on shoes.
- Meetings and talks — share the disc on the screen so every speaker can see their time.
- Taking turns — give each child the same time with a toy, a game or the computer.
8 disc styles and two kinds of face
- Red classic — the well-known red disc on a white face
- Blue and Green — the same look in calmer colors
- Rainbow — colored slices, fun for young children
- Traffic light — green, then yellow when half the time is gone, then red for the last fifth
- Dark — a dark face for dim rooms and evening use
- Chalkboard — a chalky disc on a green board
- Pastel — soft colored slices on a cream face
The Clock face option sets the size of the face. Fit to the time makes the disc start full for every preset, so a 5-minute timer is a whole circle (the 1- and 2-minute faces count in quarters and halves of a minute). Always 60 minutes works like the classic one-hour timer: 15 minutes is a quarter of the face, and 5 minutes is a thin slice.
How to use it
- Click a time (for example 5 min), type your own time, or drag the edge of the disc
- Pick a disc color and the options you like
- Press Start (or the Space bar), and the disc begins to shrink
- Press Fullscreen (or F) to show it big on the classroom screen
- When the time is up, you hear the end sound and see Time's up! Press Stop to set the timer back, or Restart to run it again
Frequently asked questions
What is a visual timer?
A visual timer shows the time left as a colored shape that gets smaller, so you can see how much time is left at a glance. You do not need to read numbers or a clock.
How do I set the time by dragging?
Press on the disc and move your finger or mouse around the face. The edge of the disc follows you in steps of one minute (or a few seconds on the short faces). You can also click the disc and use the arrow keys.
Can I hide the numbers?
Yes. Turn off Show the time in digits for a timer with no numbers at all. Turn off Numbers on the face or Tick marks for a cleaner face.
Can I turn the sound off?
Yes. Turn off Play a sound at the end. You still see Time's up! on the screen. When the sound is on, it plays three times and then stops.
Does it work on a smart board, phone or tablet?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser. On a phone or tablet you can drag the disc with your finger. Fullscreen and "Keep the screen on" work in most browsers.
Does the timer keep running in another tab?
Yes. The time left shows in the browser tab, and the end sound still plays. Just do not close the tab. A computer that goes to sleep stops everything, so the timer asks the screen to stay on while it runs.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and nothing to install. Your settings stay on your device.
Related tools
- Timer & Stopwatch — any time, with big digits
- Sand Clock — an hourglass you can watch
- Pomodoro Timer — work and break cycles
- Classroom Noise Meter — see how loud the room is
- Spin the Wheel — pick a name at random
