Big enough to read from the back row
This timer stretches the digits from one edge of the screen to the other. Instead of picking a font size and placing it on the page, it sizes the digits to fit the screen, so on a laptop, tablet or phone you get the largest numbers that screen can show.
Hold a phone upright and the minutes and seconds stack on two lines, so the tall screen is used too. While the timer runs, the buttons fade away and only the digits are left. Move the mouse or tap the screen to bring them back.
How to use
- Pick a time with the “1 min”, “3 min”, “5 min” buttons, and fine-tune it with “+1 min” and “+10 s”
- Press “Start” to begin the countdown
- On a projector or a large monitor, press “Full screen”
- At zero the screen turns red and a beep plays (press “Sound on” to switch it to “Sound off” if you want silence)
On a computer you can also use the keyboard.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Start / pause |
| R | Reset to the time you set |
| F | Toggle full screen |
| ↑ ↓ | Add / subtract 1 minute (while stopped) |
| → ← | Add / subtract 10 seconds (while stopped) |
Where it helps
- Short pitches at meetups and networking events (1, 3 or 5 minutes)
- Timekeeping at lightning talk nights: put a monitor where the speaker can see it
- Presentations in meetings and classes, and practice for speeches and interviews
- Group work in workshops, and the time left in a quiz or exam
FAQ
- Is it really free? Do I need an account?
- It is free, with no account and nothing to install. Open this page and it is ready to use.
- Will the screen go dark while the timer runs?
- In browsers that support it (recent Chrome, Edge and Safari), the screen stays on while the timer runs. Some power-saving settings may still turn it off.
- Does the time drift if I switch tabs or apps?
- No. The time left is recalculated from the clock, so it is correct when you come back.
- Full screen doesn’t work on my iPhone.
- Safari on iPhone can’t put part of a page into full screen. Pressing “Full screen” fixes the timer to fill the screen instead. Turn the phone sideways for even bigger digits.
- Is the time I enter sent anywhere?
- No. The timer runs entirely in your browser. It only remembers the last time you set and whether sound is on, in this browser, for next time. See how this site uses analytics (in Japanese).
Several speakers? Use the app.
This page counts down a single time. If you are running a meetup or pitch night with a line of speakers, the negotimer app does more.
- Runs each talk and its Q&A automatically, speaker after speaker
- A beep at ten seconds left, and the screen turns green with ten seconds to go and yellow for the last three
- Per-speaker recording (Pro, a one-time purchase with no subscription)
For iPhone and Android. Every timer feature is free, with a banner ad at the bottom.
Showing the timer in an online meeting? See the Windows version · About negotimer · Guides for hosts and speakers