Analog Clock
A live analog clock face with a smooth sweeping second hand. Pick a dial style, Roman or Arabic numerals, any time zone and an optional tick-tock sound, then put it in full screen.
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Tip: press F or double-click the clock for full screen, S to toggle the tick sound. Your settings are saved in this browser.
How to use the Analog Clock
- Look at the clock: it starts immediately with your device's local time.
- Choose a clock face and numerals: for example Vintage cream with Roman numerals, or Railway station with no numbers.
- Pick the second hand motion: Smooth sweep, Tick each second, or hide it for a calmer display.
- Optionally pick a time zone to show the time in another city; the UTC offset is shown next to the buttons.
- Press Start full screen (or F) and turn on Play tick sound (or S) if you want an audible ticking clock.
How to read an analog clock
The short hand shows the hour and the long hand shows the minutes. Each number on the dial stands for an hour for the short hand, but for five minutes for the long hand: when the minute hand points at 3 it is 15 minutes past, at 6 it is half past (30 minutes) and at 9 it is quarter to (45 minutes). The thin colored hand counts the seconds. Choose Hours + minutes ring in the Numerals menu to print the minute values (05, 10, 15…) around the edge, which helps when learning to tell the time.
Angles of the hands
All three hands turn clockwise from 12. A full turn is 360°, so:
| Hand | One full turn takes | Moves per minute | Moves per second |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hour hand | 12 hours | 0.5° | 1/120° (0.0083°) |
| Minute hand | 60 minutes | 6° | 0.1° |
| Second hand | 60 seconds | 360° | 6° |
The hour-hand angle is 30 × (hours mod 12) + 0.5 × minutes and the minute-hand angle is 6 × minutes. At 10:10 the hour hand sits at 30 × 10 + 5 = 305° and the minute hand at 60°, which is why watch adverts show that time: the hands frame the logo symmetrically. The hands overlap 11 times in 12 hours, roughly every 65 minutes 27 seconds.
Sweep vs tick and Roman numerals
- Smooth sweep moves the second hand continuously, like a mechanical watch running at a high beat rate. Tick each second jumps 6° once a second, like a quartz wall clock; turn on the tick sound for the familiar tick-tock.
- Roman numerals: many traditional clocks write four as IIII instead of IV. This "clockmaker's four" balances the dial visually against VIII on the other side, so this clock uses it too.
- Railway station face: thick bar markers, plain black hands and a red second hand with a round tip, the classic platform clock look. Combine it with No numbers for the purest version.
Frequently asked questions
Is this analog clock accurate?
It shows your device's system clock, which is normally synchronised with internet time servers to within a fraction of a second. The hands are redrawn on every screen refresh, so the sweeping second hand is always in the exact position for the current millisecond.
What is the difference between sweep and tick?
Smooth sweep moves the second hand continuously, like a mechanical watch. Tick each second makes it jump 6 degrees once per second, like a battery quartz wall clock. In tick mode the minute hand also moves in small steps once per second.
Why does the Roman numeral clock show IIII instead of IV?
Most traditional clock dials use IIII for four. Clockmakers kept this older form because it visually balances VIII on the opposite side of the dial and is easier to read upside down at the bottom-left of the face.
How do I get a ticking sound?
Press Play tick sound or the S key. The tick-tock is synthesised in your browser with the Web Audio API on every second change, so no audio file is downloaded. Browsers only allow sound after you click the page, so the button is required.
Can I show the time in another time zone?
Yes. Choose any IANA time zone, such as Europe/London or Asia/Tokyo, from the Time zone menu. The clock applies the correct UTC offset, including daylight saving time, and prints the city name on the dial.
How do I use it as a full screen wall clock?
Press Start full screen, the F key or double-click the clock. Tick Keep screen awake so a laptop or tablet does not dim, and choose the Night face for a dark room. Press Esc or the Exit button to leave full screen.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.