18 minute timer
Counts down 18 min, then beeps.
Space start/pause R reset Esc stop
Settings
Counts down 18 min, then beeps.
01
What this one is for
An 18 minute timer is the TED talk slot. Eighteen minutes is the hard ceiling every speaker gets, chosen because it is long enough to make one real argument and short enough that an audience stays with you.
The same eighteen minutes works for a focus block if twenty five feels like a commitment, and for a tray of cookies that wants a look at fifteen.
Space starts and pauses. The tab title carries the countdown, so you can rehearse from your notes, and a beep marks the end.
02
Good for
- Rehearsing a TED style talk
- Timed presentations and pitches
- A short focus block
- Baking cookies and tray bakes
03
How it runs
Counts down 18 min, then beeps. Press Start, or hit Space. The digits turn green while a work block runs and grey on rest.
Sound is on by default: a rising pair for work, a falling pair for rest, a tick for the last three seconds and a three-note finish. Mute with the speaker button. The screen stays on while the timer runs and the tab title shows the time left.
Change anything in Settings under the timer. The last setup you used on this page is remembered in your browser.
Questions people ask
- Why are TED talks 18 minutes?
- It is a deliberate limit. Long enough to be serious, short enough to hold attention and to fit neatly into a conference schedule.
- Can I see the time without looking at the page?
- The tab title shows the remaining time while it runs, which is enough to glance at from your slides.
- Will it still ring if I switch tabs?
- The countdown is tracked from timestamps so it never drifts, and the beep plays while the tab is open or the moment you come back.
- Can I change it to 20 minutes?
- Yes, edit the duration on the timer or open the 20 minute page.