2 minute timer
What a 2-minute timer is good for
- Brushing teeth. The NHS advises brushing twice a day for about 2 minutes each time, then spitting out the toothpaste rather than rinsing, so the fluoride stays on your teeth. A visible countdown helps children keep going.
- Speaking practice. Talk on one topic for two minutes without stopping. It suits language learners preparing for an oral exam and anyone rehearsing a short update for a meeting.
- The two-minute rule. David Allen's productivity method says that if a task takes less than two minutes, do it now. Start the timer and clear as many small jobs as you can.
- A cooling-off pause. Wait two minutes before sending a sharp reply or stepping back into an argument.
- Longer holds. The next step up from a one-minute plank or stretch.
Most electric toothbrushes have a two-minute timer built in. This one is for manual brushes, and for children who like watching the numbers go down.
How it works
Press Start and the 2-minute countdown begins; the bar and the browser tab show the time left. The timer counts to a fixed end time, so it stays accurate if you switch tabs, and an alarm sounds at zero while the numbers flash. Full screen makes the digits readable from across a room. Space starts and pauses, R resets. To share a different length, add ?t= and a number of seconds to the address: datetime.uk/timer/?t=150 opens a timer for 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Set any other length on the online timer, or count up with the stopwatch. For a shorter hold, go back to the 1-minute timer.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2 minutes long enough to brush your teeth?
Yes. The NHS recommends brushing for about 2 minutes, twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste. Spit out afterwards but don't rinse straight away.
Will the timer keep going if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer counts to a fixed end time, so it stays accurate in a background tab, and the alarm still sounds. Closing the tab stops it.
Why can't I hear the alarm on my phone?
Check the volume and that the tab is not muted. On an iPhone, the silent switch can mute browser sounds. The numbers still flash and the tab title changes when time is up.