Calm Timers
A 30 second hourglass
This 30 second sand timer, or sand clock, runs for exactly 30 seconds. Every grain is simulated, so you can watch the crater form on top and the pile build underneath while the time passes.
Thirty seconds is a quick plank, a round of hand washing, or one turn in a party game. Short enough to watch every grain fall.
It works as a 30 second hourglass, sand clock, egg timer or visual timer, right in your browser. Need a different length? Use the presets beside the timer, or type any number of minutes.
Good for
- Hand washing (it takes about 20 to 30 seconds)
- Quick-fire game rounds and charades turns
- A 30-second plank or stretch
- Short speaking turns in class
Other sand timers
Who it’s for
- Teachers and classrooms. Put the sand timer on the projector or smartboard for transitions, centers, tests and clean-up time. It’s easy to read from the back of the room.
- Kids and parents. Seeing time drain away makes waiting easier to understand than numbers alone, for routines like brushing teeth, screen time or getting ready.
- ADHD, autism and visual thinkers. A visual timer shows time passing instead of just counting it, which many people find easier to follow and less stressful.
- Students. Study sessions, homework sprints and timed exam practice, with a calm visual instead of a ticking clock.
- Meditation, yoga and relaxation. A quiet, soothing timer for breathing exercises, stretching or winding down.
- Work and focus. Pomodoro blocks and focused work sessions, with a mini window that floats over your other apps.
More calm timers
How to use it
- Press Start (or the space bar) and the sand begins to fall. Press again to pause.
- When the top is empty, a soft chime plays. Press Flip & restart to turn the glass and go again.
- Press Flip any time to turn the hourglass over, just like a real one. The sand that has fallen becomes the time left.
- Pick a sand colour, turn on the gentle sand sound, or use Focus to hide everything but the hourglass.
Questions
Is a sand clock the same as a sand timer?
Yes. Sand clock, sand timer, hourglass and sandglass all mean the same thing: two glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck, with sand running from the top to the bottom. Calm Timers is an online version you can set to any time.
Is the sand really simulated?
Yes. Every grain is its own pixel. Grains fall, slide and pile up on their own, which is why the top forms a crater and the bottom forms a cone, like real sand.
Is the 30 second timer accurate?
Yes. The neck lets grains through at exactly the rate needed for the chosen time, so the glass empties right as the countdown reaches zero.
Does it keep running in another tab?
Yes. The timer counts real time, so it stays correct while you switch tabs, and the chime still plays when time is up.
Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. It works on any projector or smartboard browser with no sign-up or install. Use Fullscreen and Focus for a clean, distraction-free view.
Is it free?
Yes. Calm Timers is free to use, with no account and no pop-ups.