Focus Timers: 25/5, 50/10, 45/15 and 90/20 Compared

Timer	Focus	Short break	Long break	Good for
25 minute timer with a 5 minute break	25 min	5 min	15 min	Starting out, revision, routine practice, tasks you are avoiding
50 minute timer with a 10 minute break	50 min	10 min	30 min	Coding, writing, long problems
45 minute study timer with a 15 minute break	45 min	15 min	30 min	School students, timetables planned by the hour
90 minute focus timer with a 20 minute break	90 min	20 min	30 min	One or two sessions of deep work a day

How to choose

The right rhythm depends on the work more than on the person. Ask two questions. First: how long does this work take to get into? Revising flash cards takes seconds; picking up a half-written program can take a quarter of an hour. The longer the warm-up, the longer the round should be, so that the warm-up is a small share of it. Second: how hard is it to start? For a task you dread, a short promise is easier to keep, so choose the shortest round.

That gives a simple guide. Use 25 and 5 for revision, routine practice, small tasks and anything you are avoiding. Use 50 and 10 for writing, coding and long problems. Use 45 and 15 when you plan your day in clock hours, as most school students do. Keep 90 and 20 for one or two sessions a day on your hardest problem.

What stays the same

Whatever the lengths, the rules of the method do not change: one named task per round, no switching, stop at the bell, and take the break away from the screen. A longer round is not a looser one. And the proportion of rest matters: when you lengthen the work, lengthen the break with it. Skipping breaks to "save time" is the surest way to run out of attention by mid-afternoon.

Give a rhythm a fair trial

Changing the lengths every day tells you nothing, because every day differs for other reasons too. Pick one rhythm and keep it for a week. Each evening, note the rounds completed and how the work felt. Then try another for a week and compare. The timer on this site records your daily counts for the last seven days in your browser, which makes the comparison easy.

Mixing rhythms in one day

Many people settle on a mixture: a long session or two in the morning for the hardest work, and short rounds in the afternoon for lighter tasks. That is sensible. Decide the pattern in advance, when you plan the day, and not in the moment when a short round simply feels like less effort. The day planner works with any lengths you type in.

Questions people ask

Which timer should I start with?

Start with 25 and 5 and keep it for a week or two. Change to a longer rhythm only if the bell keeps cutting you off in work that needs a long warm-up.

Can I set my own lengths?

Yes. On the home page timer, open Settings and type any focus length from 1 to 180 minutes and any break length. Your choice is remembered in your browser.

Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs or lock the phone?

Yes. The time is worked out from the clock, so it stays correct. With the bell and notification switched on you are told when the round ends; some phones silence web pages when the screen is locked, so keep the screen on if you rely on the bell.

Guides

How it works For students Exam study plan At work Work from home Interruptions Breaks Phone distraction Getting started Estimating Splitting tasks Flow and long work For coding For writing Long study days Common problems Group study For children Weekly planning

An independent site. The method described here was created by Francesco Cirillo, and Pomodoro Technique is his registered trademark. This site is not connected with him or his company. The timer is free, needs no login and keeps your settings and counts only in your own browser.