Pomodoro Timer
Run Pomodoro work sessions and breaks automatically, with a long break after every fourth session and adjustable lengths.
A long break follows every 4 work sessions. One full set takes 130 minutes including the long break.
Updated Formula covered by automated tests
This timer runs the Pomodoro routine for you: a work session (25 minutes by default), a short break, another session, and after every fourth session a longer break. It switches phases automatically, numbers each session, and the row of dots shows where you are in the current set of four. Work and break lengths can be changed to suit the task.
The method suits work that is easy to put off or hard to start, such as writing, studying for exams, coding, or clearing an inbox. A fixed block with a visible end makes starting less daunting, and the scheduled breaks stop long sessions from quietly turning into three hours without standing up. Knowing how long a run of sessions will take also makes it easier to plan an afternoon.
The formula
- n
- Number of work sessions (pomodoros) planned
- w
- Length of one work session in minutes (default 25)
- s, b
- Short break and long break lengths in minutes (defaults 5 and 15)
- c
- Sessions per set before a long break (4)
- L
- Number of long breaks that fall between the planned sessions; no break is counted after the last one
Francesco Cirillo developed the technique as a university student in the late 1980s, timing study sessions with a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, which is where the name comes from (pomodoro is Italian for tomato). His version uses 25-minute sessions, a short break of about 3 to 5 minutes, and a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes after four sessions.
The total-time equation counts the breaks between sessions only: n sessions have n − 1 gaps, and every c-th gap is a long break instead of a short one. Knowing that a set of four default pomodoros takes 115 minutes before the long break, or 130 minutes including it, makes it easier to fit focus time into a calendar.
Worked example
Aisha has a free afternoon to write a term paper and plans six default pomodoros (25-minute sessions, 5-minute short breaks, a 15-minute long break after the fourth).
- 1 Focus time: 6 × 25 = 150 minutes.
- 2 Gaps between sessions: 6 − 1 = 5. Long breaks: ⌊5 ÷ 4⌋ = 1 (after session 4); short breaks: 5 − 1 = 4.
- 3 Break time: 4 × 5 + 1 × 15 = 20 + 15 = 35 minutes.
- 4 Total: 150 + 35 = 185 minutes, or 3 hours 5 minutes.
Result: Six pomodoros take 3 hours 5 minutes from first session to last: starting at 1:00 p.m., Aisha finishes at 4:05 p.m. with 2.5 hours of focused writing.
Before you rely on the result
- The countdown ticks once per second inside the page and is not saved; reloading resets it, and a hidden tab may run slow.
- There is no alarm sound, so keep the timer in view to notice when a phase changes.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I am interrupted in the middle of a session?
Cirillo’s rule is that a pomodoro is indivisible: if you have to deal with the interruption properly, the session is abandoned and you start a fresh one afterward. For small distractions, jot them on a list and return to them at the next break.
Is 25 minutes the right length for everyone?
It is a starting point, not a requirement. Tasks that need a long warm-up, like debugging or composing music, often go better with 45 or 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Keep the ratio of work to rest roughly similar and adjust based on how focused you feel by the end of each block.
Why does the session counter keep going past 4?
The counter numbers every session of the day so you can see total output, while the dots restart after each long break. Session 5 is the first session of your second set.
Does the timer keep running in a background tab?
Browsers throttle timers in hidden tabs, so a countdown left in the background can fall behind real time. For long sessions keep the tab visible, or note the clock time when a session should end.
Sources
- Francesco Cirillo: The Pomodoro Technique (francescocirillo.com)