52/17 timer
52 min focus, 17 min break, then a 17 min long break after 4 sessions. 4 hr 36 min total.
What this one is for
The 52/17 rhythm comes from an observed pattern in DeskTime user activity. It is an option to try, not evidence that these exact numbers are best for everyone.
This preset runs four 52-minute focus blocks, each followed by a 17-minute break. Focus totals 208 minutes, breaks total 68, and the complete cycle takes 276 minutes, or 4 hours 36 minutes.
Use it when you deliberately want a longer break between work periods. If that total does not fit your calendar, reduce Focus sessions. The linked comparison guide explains the evidence and offers a way to test different lengths.
Good for
- A steady rhythm for a full day at a desk
- Anyone who skips short breaks because they feel too short to matter
- Pairing work blocks with real meal or walk breaks
- Busy admin days that still need quiet focus time
How it runs
52 min focus, 17 min break, then a 17 min long break after 4 sessions. 4 hr 36 min total. Press Start, or hit Space. The phase word and icon above the progress bar tell you where you are.
Check the Sound chip and device volume before starting. Work and rest have different tones. The tab title shows the time left. Start begins the first phase immediately; prepare your space first.
Keep the page visible for cues. The timer requests an awake screen, but the browser can refuse it or delay background sound. For offline use, load this exact page online and test a reload without a connection before relying on it.
Change the settings before starting. Durations use minutes. This page opens with its preset each visit; the main timer page remembers your valid settings.
Common questions
Where do the numbers 52 and 17 come from?
From DeskTime’s 2014 look at its own users’ computer activity. They were the average work and break lengths of the top 10 percent. It shows what productive people happened to do, not a tested rule.
Why is the long break also 17 minutes?
Because this rhythm has no special long break. Every break is already a proper one, so they’re all the same length. You can change the long break in the settings if you’d like a bigger rest at the end.
Is it better than 25/5?
Neither has strong evidence for its exact numbers. Longer blocks suit work that’s slow to get going. Shorter blocks suit work that’s hard to start. Try each for a week and keep the one you stick with.
Does anything get saved?
Only in your browser. If you change the numbers on the main Pomodoro timer, they stay on your device. There’s no account, and the page can work offline once its required files are cached and an offline reload test succeeds.