Quick answer: Enter a time in MM:SS (for example, 05:00),
pick a theme, and press START. The countdown fills the screen and flashes
at key moments so you can stay on time from across the room.
Big Timer is a free, high-visibility Progressive Web App countdown timer built for public speakers, presenters, and performers. Unlike a standard phone timer, Big Timer is designed to be read from a distance and uses visual alerts (screen flashing) instead of sound, so you can keep track of time without checking small numbers or listening for beeps.
The app runs entirely in your browser. There is no sign-in, no account, and no tracking. PWA Offline ready
Type your desired time in MM:SS format (for example, 05:00
for 5 minutes) into the duration field, or tap one of the quick-set buttons:
1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 30m.
You can also start a timer directly from a link or bookmark by adding a
?duration= parameter, for example /?duration=05:00 for a
5-minute countdown.
Choose the look that works best for your venue and lighting.
High-contrast presets ensure readability in almost any lighting condition, from a dark stage to a bright conference room.
When the timer starts, the interface strips away everything except the countdown. The digits are shown in the largest possible font (using the Roboto Condensed font) to fill the viewport, taking at least 90% of the screen.
× to return to the configuration screen.⛶ button for maximum visibility.To keep you on track without audio, Big Timer flashes the screen at key moments:
While the timer is running, press the ⛶ button to toggle fullscreen for a
borderless, immersive view. Press it again, or press Esc, to exit fullscreen.
Big Timer is a Progressive Web App, which means it can be installed to your device and used without an internet connection once loaded.
After installation, Big Timer runs full screen and works offline.
Once Big Timer is installed, quick-start shortcuts are available from the app icon on supported devices. These open the app with a preset duration already loaded:
On desktop browsers, long-press or right-click the app icon to see these shortcuts.
Big Timer remembers your last used settings automatically, including your timer duration,
selected theme, and custom colors. These are stored locally in your browser using
localStorage, so they remain available the next time you open the app.
To reset your preferences, clear your browser's site data for Big Timer. See the Privacy Policy for details on what is stored.
Press the ⛶ button during focus mode. If that does not help, make sure your
browser supports fullscreen and that another tab or window is not already in fullscreen.
Big Timer uses the Roboto Condensed font. If it has not loaded yet (for example, on a slow or offline first visit), the browser will show a fallback font. Once the font is cached, it will always load correctly, even offline.
Make sure the page has loaded at least once while online so the service worker can cache the app files. If problems persist, clear the site data and visit the app online again.
Visual alerts use color inversion. Some accessibility settings or browser extensions can affect this. Try switching themes or disabling browser extensions that override page colors.
If you have questions, feedback, or want to report an issue, you can reach out: