Meeting Timer
Keep meetings productive and on time. Set a total meeting duration or create a segmented agenda with time blocks.
Meeting Timer Uses
Stand-Up Meetings
Keep daily stand-ups under 15 minutes with a visible countdown.
Client Calls
Respect everyone's time by keeping calls within the scheduled window.
Brainstorming
Set time-boxed brainstorming sessions for focused ideation.
Timeboxing an agenda
Enter the total meeting length, or build an agenda of named segments with a time for each, and the timer moves through them with a chime at every boundary. A visible, neutral clock changes meeting behaviour more than any amount of chairing: people shorten their points when they can see the minutes shrinking, and "the timer says two minutes" is easier to say than "you are talking too long". Share the tab on the meeting screen, or put a laptop facing the table.
A workable 60-minute template: 3 minutes to state the goal, 20 for the main decision, 15 and 10 for the next items, 7 for actions and owners, 5 of buffer. Give the important item the first slot, while attention is highest, and keep the buffer honest; it exists so the meeting ends on time even when one item runs over.
Warnings, and what to say when they sound
Each segment gets two warnings: one at the halfway point and one with two minutes left. Use the second one as a question rather than a countdown: "two minutes on this; what are we deciding?" When a topic clearly needs more time than it has, park it: name the two people who care most, book a separate slot, and ask whether anything blocks the remaining items. When a decision is being avoided, propose one and ask for objections; silence is consent. Our timed meetings guide has scripts for the common overrun situations.
Formats
| Meeting | Length | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Daily stand-up | 15 min | 60–90 s per person, standing. Park anything that turns into a discussion. |
| Decision meeting | 25–30 min | 5 min silent reading of a one-page brief, then discussion and decision. |
| Weekly team meeting | 45–60 min | Timeboxed agenda as above; updates in writing beforehand. |
| Retrospective | 45 min | 5 scene, 15 collect, 15 discuss top three, 10 actions. |
| Client call | 30 min | 5 context, 20 substance, 5 next steps; end early if done. |
Related tools
A single talk with colour warnings: the presentation timer. Equal speaking time for two sides: the debate timer. Choosing a slot across time zones: the world clock and the time zone converter. Two-week planning cycles: the sprint timer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the meeting timer work?
Set your total meeting time and optionally divide it into segments (intro, discussion, decisions, action items). The timer alerts you at each transition.
Can I set agenda items?
Yes, create up to 10 agenda segments, each with its own time allocation.
Will it alert when time is running out?
Yes, you get a warning at the halfway point and when 5 minutes remain.