5 Second Timer
A free 5 second timer, preset and ready. Press Start for a quick 5 seconds countdown with an alarm at zero. Perfect for short drills, plank holds, brushing teeth and quick games. Runs in your browser — no download.
What is this timer good for?
- A plank, wall-sit or other isometric hold
- Brushing teeth (the dentist's recommended length)
- A quick HIIT interval or sprint
- A board-game or quiz turn timer
- A short breathing or grounding exercise
How to use it
- The timer opens preset to 5 seconds.
- Adjust the hours, minutes or seconds for a different length.
- Press Start and the big display counts down.
- An alarm sounds at 00:00:00 — press Reset to run it again.
How long is 5 seconds?
5 seconds is 8% of a minute — exactly 1/12 of it. At a relaxed speaking pace of two words per second, about 10 words fit into this window.
Five seconds is about the length of one good, slow breath in.
Things that take about 5 seconds
- Time a 5-second breathing exercise: inhale slowly, hold, then exhale against the clock.
- Microwave, steep or rinse for 5 seconds — short kitchen steps are easy to overshoot without a timer.
- Hold a plank, wall-sit or stretch for 5 seconds and let the alarm do the counting.
- Run a 5-second sprint, hard pedal or jump-rope burst in interval training.
FAQ
Will it ring if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer calibrates against your system clock, so it stays accurate even in a background tab. Just don't close the tab.
Do I need to download anything?
No. The timer runs entirely in your browser with no download, signup or plugin.
Can I change the duration?
Yes. Type any hours, minutes and seconds into the fields, or pick a related timer above.
Is it free?
Yes, it is completely free to use.
How long is 5 seconds really?
5 seconds is 5 seconds — 8% of a minute.
What if I need a bit more or less than 5 seconds?
Adjust the hours, minutes and seconds fields before pressing Start — the 5-second preset is only a starting point, and the Related links above jump to neighbouring lengths.