1 minute timer, sixty seconds, then a bell.

A 1 minute timer counts 60 seconds down to zero and rings. This one starts with one press, shows a ring that empties as the seconds go, can tick the last 10 seconds so you are never surprised, and can repeat the minute for as many rounds as you like. It keeps correct time when you switch to another tab, because the alarm is booked on the browser's sound clock when you press Start.

How to use the 1 minute timer

1. Press Start or the space bar. The countdown begins at 1:00 and the line under the numbers shows the clock time it ends.
2. Pick a label under What is it for?, or type your own in Label. It shows above the countdown, in the tab title and in the alarm notification.
3. Choose Rounds if you want the 1 minutes to repeat. A single bell marks the end of each round and the next one starts at once.
4. Pick the alarm Sound and the Volume, and press Hear the sound to check it before you start.
5. Tick a soft cue if you want one: Tick the last 10 seconds.
6. Press Pause to hold the time and Resume to carry on. +1 min adds a minute. When it rings, press Stop the alarm, or Start again to run it once more.

Why a one minute timer works

A minute is long enough to finish a small job and short enough that you will not drift away from it. Because it is so short, the start matters more than on a longer timer: press Start first, then begin. If you set things up after you begin, you lose several of the 60 seconds.

• Speaking drills. Say your answer, your introduction or your idea in one minute. Read your notes once beforehand and then look at the ring, not at them.
• Quick tasks. Put away what is on one desk, wipe one counter, or do one short stretch. A visible end makes it easier to begin.
• Waiting. Some steps are given as "wait a minute", such as letting a pour-over coffee bloom or a face mask sit. Follow the instructions on the product or recipe; this page only counts the time.
• Games. One minute per turn suits charades, word games and quick quizzes, and the ring shows every player how much is left.

The last 10 seconds

With Tick the last 10 seconds ticked, the timer plays ten soft ticks, one for each remaining second, with the last three a little higher. The ticks are booked on the same sound clock as the alarm, so they land on the seconds even if the tab is in the background. They stop if you pause, and they are booked again when you resume. This option is off by default, so a quiet room stays quiet.

Rounds of one minute

Choose a number under Rounds and the minute repeats. A bell marks the end of each round and the next minute starts at once, with no gap. Use it for drills where you do the same thing again and again. If you need rest between rounds, press Start by hand each time, or use the Pomodoro timer for work and break blocks.

1 minute in other units

Adding time is simple too: +1 min turns 1:00 into 2:00, and pressing it while the alarm rings starts a fresh minute, like a snooze. For anything that is not a whole minute, type it in the box under Any other time, such as 45s or 1:30, and press Enter. That opens the online timer already set.

Find your speaking pace

To know how many words fit in a minute, test yourself. Read a passage of 100 words aloud at a natural pace, with the timer running, and stop it with Pause at the last word. If the ring shows 0:20 left, you took 40 seconds, so your pace is 100 words in 40 seconds: 100 ÷ 40 × 60 = 150 words a minute. Your number will differ. Then write your one minute pitch to that length. The words to minutes tool does the same sum for a longer script.

A one minute pitch, in three parts

Split the 60 seconds into 10 for the hook, 40 for the point and 10 for the ask. With Tick the last 10 seconds ticked, the ticks start exactly when the ask should begin, so you always know when to close.

Common problems

• No sound. Check the volume slider here and on your computer, and press Hear the sound. Browsers only allow sound after a click on the page, which pressing Start counts as.
• The page was in the background. The alarm still rings on time. A phone may pause a page that is not on screen, so keep it in view.
• The numbers stay on 1:00 for a moment. The display rounds up, so it shows 1:00 until a full second has passed and then 0:59.