Meditation timer with a singing-bowl bell

This free online meditation timer does one job well: it keeps time so you don't have to. Choose how long to sit, whether you want a bell during the session, and what to focus on, then press Start. A soft singing-bowl bell opens the session, can mark the intervals, and closes it.

It works like a meditation timer app without the download: no account, and it runs in any browser. You can use it on a laptop or tablet, not only on a phone, and on a computer it doubles as a desktop timer app for meditation. You don't need a physical meditation timer device or an analog clock either.

How to use the meditation timer

1. Minutes: choose 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 or 60. Ten minutes is selected when the page opens.
2. Interval bell: none, every minute, or every 5 minutes (the default).
3. Focus: your breath, or one of 50 hand mudras such as Gyan Mudra or Dhyana Mudra.
4. Voice: leave it ticked for one short spoken line at the start and one at the end, or untick it for a timer with bells only.
5. Start and close your eyes. The countdown runs in the centre of the circle, which slowly swells and settles about six times a minute, a quiet rhythm you can follow or ignore.

Press Stop to end early; the timer resets to your chosen length. When a session runs to the end, a closing bell sounds, the voice says "Slowly open your eyes. Well done." and the minutes are added to My practice, where you can see your streak.

A meditation timer with intervals and bells

The opening and closing sounds are a warm singing-bowl tone, not a harsh alarm, so the end of the session doesn't jolt you. The interval bell is softer than the opening one, and the bell at the end has its own gentle closing sound.

• Every minute: useful when you are learning. Each bell is a cue to notice where your mind is and come back to the breath.
• Every 5 minutes: a gentle check-in during longer sits, and a way to feel time passing without opening your eyes.
• None: only the start and end bells, for an unbroken sit.

If you search for a meditation timer with a gong, the bowl here plays the same role: a clear, fading sound that marks the edges of your practice. It is not a meditation timer with music: silence, or the sounds around you, are part of the practice.

How long should you meditate? Choosing a duration

• 3 or 5 minutes: set the timer for 3 minutes and meditate during a work break; a meditation timer of 5 minutes suits complete beginners and calming down before a meeting.
• 10 minutes: the default. A ten minute meditation timer is the best place for most people to build a daily habit, so to set a 10 minute timer for meditation, just press Start.
• 15 or 20 minutes: a meditation timer of 15 minutes or 20 minutes gives the first restless minutes time to pass. Set a 20 min timer for meditation once 10 feels easy.
• 30 or 45 minutes: a 30 min timer for meditation, or a 45 minute one, suits experienced meditators and a weekend sit at home.
• 60 minutes: choose it to set a 1 hour timer for meditation. For a one hour meditation timer, use the 5-minute interval bell and a firm cushion.

Start with a length that feels a little too short. A 5 or 10 minute meditation you do every day builds the habit faster than a 45-minute sit once a week. Add a few minutes each week. A 20 minute timer is a common daily goal after a month or two.

Meditating with a mudra focus

A mudra is a simple hand position held during meditation or breathing. When you pick one as your focus, its name appears in the circle and the voice asks you to hold the mudra and breathe slowly. Some good choices:

• Gyan Mudra: index finger and thumb touch, palms up. The classic meditation hand position.
• Chin Mudra: the same fingers with palms down, traditionally used for a grounded, calm feeling.
• Dhyana Mudra: hands resting in the lap, right on left, thumbs touching. Good for long sits.
• Prana Mudra: traditionally used when you feel tired or low in energy.

The "Start a timer" button on each mudra page opens this timer with that mudra already chosen. See all 17 on the mudras page.

Meditation tips for beginners

1. Sit so you can forget your body. A chair with both feet on the floor is fine. On the floor, sit on a cushion so your knees are lower than your hips.
2. Pick one anchor: the breath at the nostrils, the belly moving, or the feeling of your hands in the mudra.
3. Expect the mind to wander. It will, many times. Noticing and coming back is the practice, not a failure.
4. Same time, same place. Right after waking, or before dinner, works for most people.
5. Prepare the breath first. Two minutes on the breathing timer (box breathing or Anulom Vilom) makes it easier to sit still.
6. Silence notifications and keep the page open. You don't need to watch the countdown; the bell will tell you.

New to sitting? Our meditation for beginners guide explains techniques step by step. If you would rather lie down and be guided the whole way, try Yoga Nidra instead.

Can I use it as a silent meditation timer?

Almost. For a meditation timer without sound in between, untick Voice and set the interval to None: you will hear only the opening and closing bells. There is no switch to turn the bells off, because a timer that ends in silence is easy to miss; if you want no sound at all, lower your device volume and simply open your eyes to check the countdown.

What is a meditation timer, and why use one?

A meditation timer is a countdown made for sitting still, and the slowly breathing circle makes this one a visual timer online for meditation too: it starts and ends with a soft sound and can ring gently in between. Using one stops you from checking the clock, which is one of the most common distractions for beginners. Knowing the bell will come lets you let go of time completely. A phone alarm works too, but its loud ring and the pull of notifications tend to undo the calm you just built.