Free tool

Meditation timer with bell

Choose how long you want to sit, press start and close your eyes. A soft bell marks the start, optional bells mark the intervals, and three bells tell you the session is over. Nothing to install and nothing to sign up for.

Meditate quest art from XP Tracker, Monk version

Ready

10:00

Sessions this visit: 0

Length

Interval bell A single quiet bell to bring your attention back.

Settling-in time before the first bell Time to sit down and close your eyes after pressing start.

Bell volume

Ring a bell at the start Sound on

A simple way to sit

Sit so you can stay stillA chair is fine. Feet on the floor, back upright but not stiff, hands resting on your legs.
Press start and close your eyesThe settling-in time gives you a few seconds to get comfortable before the first bell.
Follow the breathNotice the air at your nose or your belly rising and falling. You don't need to change it.
When your mind wanders, come backIt will wander, often within seconds. Notice where it went, then return to the next breath. No scolding.
At the three bells, take your timeOpen your eyes slowly and sit for a few more breaths before you reach for your phone.

Breathwork quest art from XP Tracker, Druid version — A few minutes, a quiet spot and a soft bell.

Picking a length

Length	Interval bell	Good for
2 to 3 minutes	None	Your first weeks, or a reset between tasks
5 to 10 minutes	None or every 5	A daily morning or evening habit
15 to 20 minutes	Every 5	Once short sits feel easy
30 minutes or more	Every 10	Longer practice, weekends, retreats at home

The length you will actually sit every day is a better choice than the length that sounds impressive. If 10 minutes keeps getting skipped, set 3 and keep the streak. Our meditation habit page has a fuller plan for building it up, and the guide to small habits explains why starting tiny works.

How the timer works

The timer measures time from your device's clock rather than counting ticks, so it stays accurate when the tab is in the background. It only runs while a session is in progress and does nothing at all when paused or stopped. The bell is made in your browser with the Web Audio API from a few soft tones that fade out like a small singing bowl. There are no audio files to download. Browsers only allow sound after you press a button, so the first start or Test the bell switches sound on. On phones, keep the screen on: locking it can pause web pages.

A word on expectations

Meditation is a practice of paying attention. Some people find it calming, some find it hard at first, and a few find that sitting with their thoughts brings up difficult feelings. That is worth knowing before you start. If you are dealing with anxiety, low mood or trauma, a doctor or a qualified therapist can help you find an approach that suits you. This timer is a tool for practice, not a treatment.

Try it now

Set 3 minutes, sit down where you are and press start. If you liked it, do the same at the same time tomorrow.

Questions people ask

How long should a beginner meditate?

Start with 2 to 5 minutes. That is long enough to notice your breath and your wandering mind, and short enough to do every day. Add a minute or two each week if it feels good. Sitting daily for a few minutes is easier to keep than one long session a week.

Why use a bell instead of a phone alarm?

A loud alarm pulls you out with a jolt. A soft bell lets you finish the breath you are on and open your eyes slowly. It also means you don't need to check the time, which is one less reason for your attention to wander.

What are interval bells for?

A quiet bell every few minutes gives you a cue to notice where your attention has gone and bring it back. Some people use them to switch practice halfway, for example from breath focus to a body scan. Leave them off if they distract you.

Does the timer work with my screen off?

On a computer it keeps accurate time in a background tab. On most phones, locking the screen pauses web pages, so the bell may come late. Keep the screen on and face down; the timer asks your browser to stay awake where that is supported.

Is it normal for my mind to wander the whole time?

Yes. Noticing that you drifted and coming back is the practice, not a failure at it. If it happens fifty times in ten minutes, that is fifty repetitions.