Free tool
Meditation timer with a bell
The meditation timer counts down a quiet sitting with a soft bell at the start and the end. Choose 5, 10 or 20 minutes, add an interval bell every minute or every five minutes if you like, and press start. Close your eyes and let the bell, not the clock, tell you when to finish.
10:00
How does the meditation timer work?
Choose a length with the 5, 10 or 20 minute buttons. If you want a reminder partway through, set the interval bell to every minute or every five minutes; otherwise leave it on none. Press start: a soft bell sounds, and the countdown begins. A second bell marks the end and the display shows “done”. Press stop at any time to reset.
The bell is a simple tone made in your browser, so there is nothing to download and no account to create. Nothing about your session is saved or sent.
How do you use it for a sitting?
- Find a seat you can hold without strain: a chair with your feet flat, a cushion, or lying down if sitting is uncomfortable.
- Set the timer, press start, and close your eyes or lower your gaze.
- Rest your attention on the breath at the nostrils or belly.
- When you notice the mind has wandered, which it will, return to the breath without judging yourself.
- When the last bell sounds, take a few breaths before you open your eyes and stand.
If you are new, the step-by-step guide on how to meditate explains posture and focus in more detail. For a guided focus that works well with a 10 or 20 minute timer, try a body scan meditation, moving attention slowly from the feet to the head.
How should you judge a session?
There is no score. A session where you returned to the breath fifty times is not a failed session; returning is the practice. Consistency tends to matter more than length, so a short daily sitting is a fair goal. To find a method that suits you, compare the different types of meditation.
What are the limits?
The timer is a practice aid, not therapy. Meditation can sometimes bring up difficult feelings. If you live with anxiety, depression, trauma or another mental health condition, talk to a doctor or mental health professional about how to practise, and stop if a session leaves you feeling worse.
Questions
Why is the meditation timer bell silent?
Phones and browsers often block sound until you tap the page. The bell plays when you press start, so check that your phone is not on silent, the volume is up and the tab stays open. Locking the screen may pause the timer on some phones.
Which meditation timer length should a beginner choose?
Five minutes is a good first setting. It is short enough to finish on a busy day. Once five minutes feels easy most days, move to ten, and keep twenty for when sitting has become a habit.
What is the interval bell for during meditation?
An interval bell is a gentle reminder to come back to your breath or your chosen focus if the mind has wandered. It also helps you sense the passing of time without opening your eyes. Leave it off if you find it distracting.