15 Second Timer

Press Start to count down 15 seconds.

This free 15 second timer counts down 15 seconds with a shrinking red disc you can read at a glance. 15 seconds is 15 seconds (fifteen seconds). It is useful for rinsing after handwashing, a short plank and a drill interval.

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What a 15 second timer is good for

Fifteen seconds is a quarter of a minute, a handy unit for very short tasks. Coaches use it for drill work, and it is a good starting point for anyone building up to longer holds.

Rinsing hands

After lathering for twenty seconds, rinsing for about fifteen seconds removes the soap and loosened germs.

A first plank

Beginners can start with fifteen second planks and add time each week.

Drill intervals

Fifteen seconds of fast footwork or passing with short rests builds speed and accuracy.

A quick stretch hold

Hold a stretch for fifteen seconds, then switch sides.

To pace yourself, glance at the disc rather than the numbers. With the 15 second timer running, half the colour has gone after 7 seconds, and when only a quarter is left you have 3 seconds to wrap up. Open fullscreen if the timer needs to be read across a room, and add a label so everyone knows what the 15 seconds are for.

How to use the 15 second timer

  1. It is ready

    The dial is already set to 15 seconds. To change it, drag the disc, tap a preset or open Custom.

  2. Press Start

    Or press the Space bar. The red disc shrinks back towards 12 o’clock as the time runs down.

  3. Watch the disc

    Read the time left at a glance, or open fullscreen for a big dial that fills the screen.

  4. Time’s up

    Your alarm plays until you press Stop. Press Reset or R to run the same time again.

15 seconds in other units

15 seconds equals
Seconds15
Milliseconds15,000
Minutes0.25
Fraction of a day1/5760

Why use this timer

Why a visual timer helps

A shrinking disc turns time into something you can see. You read how much is left at a glance, without doing sums on a clock, and an invisible deadline feels less stressful when you can watch it approach. That is why visual timers are a staple in classrooms and are widely used by people with ADHD and autistic children and adults. Read our guide to using a visual timer, how it helps with ADHD time blindness, classroom transitions and autism.

Why this timer is accurate

The countdown is anchored to your device clock rather than counted in animation frames. It does not drift if you switch tabs or your screen sleeps: it keeps running in the background and still sounds the alarm on time. When you come back, the disc jumps straight to the correct position.

Frequently asked questions

15 seconds is simply 15 seconds, which is 0.25 of a minute or 15,000 milliseconds.

Rinsing hands thoroughly after soaping, a beginner’s plank, fast drill intervals in training or holding a stretch on each side.

Yes. The 15 second countdown is anchored to your device clock rather than counted frame by frame, so it stays accurate in a background tab and the alarm still fires when the 15 seconds are up.

No. The 15 second timer runs in your browser on phone, tablet and desktop. It is free, and there is no account, app or download.

Yes. Press the fullscreen button or the F key. The dial fills the screen, so the remaining part of the 15 seconds is readable from the back of the room.

Yes, once this page has loaded. Nothing is sent over the network while the 15 seconds count down, so a dropped connection will not stop the timer.

Fifteen seconds is a quarter of a minute, or 0.25 minutes.

Health agencies recommend scrubbing with soap for at least twenty seconds. Rinse for around fifteen seconds afterwards.

Yes. Restart the 15 second timer after each alarm for repeated work or rest intervals.

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