Meditation Timer
Choose a length, a bell and an optional ambient sound, then press Start. Bells, interval chimes, rain, ocean waves and drones are synthesized live in your browser, and your session history stays on your device.
Your practice
Shortcut: Space start / pause. Bells keep exact time in a background tab; keep the device awake for the best results.
How to use the Meditation Timer
- Pick a length with a preset or type your own number of minutes.
- Choose bells: a start and end bell, and an interval bell if you want reminders during the sit.
- Add ambience such as rain or ocean waves, and switch on a breathing guide if it helps you settle.
- Press Start (or Space). An optional settling-in countdown runs first, then the start bell rings.
- Sit until the end bell. Pause or End at any time; finished sessions are added to your history.
A simple meditation routine for beginners
- Set up: sit on a chair or cushion with a straight but relaxed back, hands resting on your thighs. Choose 5 or 10 minutes and a 10-second settling-in time.
- Arrive: during the settling-in countdown close your eyes and take three slow breaths. The start bell marks the beginning.
- Anchor on the breath: notice the sensation of breathing at the nose, chest or belly. You do not need to control it.
- Notice and return: when you realise your mind has wandered – and it will, many times – gently note "thinking" and bring your attention back to the breath. Each return is the actual practice.
- Close: when the end bell rings, listen until the sound fades completely, then open your eyes and take a moment before moving on.
Interval bells are useful for structured sessions: for example a 20-minute sit with a bell every 5 minutes lets you move from breath awareness to a body scan, to open awareness and finally to loving-kindness phrases.
Breathing patterns compared
| Pattern | Rhythm | One cycle | Breaths per minute | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box breathing | In 4 · hold 4 · out 4 · hold 4 | 16 s | 3.75 | Calming down and focusing under stress |
| 4-7-8 breathing | In 4 · hold 7 · out 8 | 19 s | ≈ 3.2 | Relaxing before sleep |
| Calm 4-6 breathing | In 4 · out 6 | 10 s | 6 | Slow, comfortable breathing close to the rate studied for heart rate variability (about 6 per minute) |
Breathe gently and never strain. If you feel dizzy or uncomfortable, return to natural breathing. This tool is for relaxation and is not a medical treatment.
About the bells and ambient sounds
All sounds are made live in your browser with the Web Audio API rather than played from recordings. A singing bowl is modelled with slightly detuned, inharmonic partials (roughly 1 : 2.76 : 5.4 : 8.9 times the fundamental) that decay slowly and gently beat against each other, which creates the familiar shimmering tone. The temple bell adds a low "hum" partial an octave below and a minor-third partial, as real cast bells have. Rain is filtered pink noise with randomly placed droplets; ocean waves are brown noise whose volume and brightness swell and recede about every 12 seconds; brown noise has more energy in the low frequencies than white or pink noise and sounds like a deep, steady rumble.
Because the bells are scheduled on the audio clock the moment you press Start, they ring on time even when the tab is in the background. For other timing needs try the Interval Timer or the Pomodoro Timer, and track a daily practice with the Habit Tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I meditate?
Beginners often start with 5 to 10 minutes a day, which is long enough to notice the mind wandering and practise returning to the breath. Many mindfulness courses, such as MBSR, build up to 20 to 45 minutes. Consistency matters more than length, so a short daily sit is a good goal.
What are interval bells for?
Interval bells ring softly at regular points, for example every 5 minutes. They help you notice if your attention has drifted, mark changes between practices such as breath focus and body scan, or signal the switch between sitting and walking meditation.
Will the bell ring if I switch tabs or lock my screen?
Bells are scheduled on the browser's audio clock when you press Start, so they ring on time in a background tab. Phones may suspend a page when the screen locks; keep the screen on (the timer asks the browser to keep it awake where supported) and the volume up.
How does 4-7-8 breathing work?
Breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 counts, hold the breath for 7 counts and breathe out through the mouth for 8 counts. The long exhale is meant to encourage relaxation. Start with a few rounds and stop if you feel light-headed.
What is box breathing?
Box breathing (square breathing) uses four equal phases: breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, breathe out for 4 and hold for 4. It is easy to remember and is used to calm down before stressful tasks.
Are the sounds recorded?
No. Every bell, rain, ocean and drone sound is synthesized live with the Web Audio API, so nothing is downloaded and the ambient sound never loops with an audible seam.
Where is my session history stored?
Only in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing your browser data or pressing Clear history removes it.