Sand Timer Online

This online sand timer is a 3 minute hourglass timer: press Start the timer, and Flip it refills the glass.

Timer length: 3 minutes

Tap the time to set your own length.

Ready-made routines (18)

30 second glass

1 minute glass

2 minute glass

3 minute glass

5 minute glass

10 minute glass

More options

Sound

When the time is up

On a phone or a tablet the silent switch mutes this sound as well, and the page cannot tell. Press Test sound to check.

Keys: Space starts and pauses, R resets, F is full screen. They rest while a button or a field has the focus.

Copies a link that opens this timer at this length.

Next step See all the classroom timers

How it works

This sand timer comes in six glasses, from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, and any length between can be typed on the time. Sand is drawn by area: a half full top bulb means half the time left.

Read the full guide

Six glasses and the jobs they do

Most traditional egg timers run about three minutes, the time for a soft-boiled egg. Sailors timed their watches with a 30 minute glass and struck the ship's bell at each turn. Open Ready-made routines (18): Drawing game turn sets the 1 minute glass, Tooth brushing the 2 and Tower building challenge the 10.

How a digital sand timer keeps time

In a real glass the sand falls at the same rate whether the top bulb is full or nearly empty, and the drawing follows that rule. The time comes from the device clock, so a laptop that sleeps mid-turn wakes to the right amount of sand. Many old glasses held no sand at all: the filling was powdered marble, tin or lead oxide, or burnt eggshell.

For a count over the 30 second glass, double the score for a rate per minute: 41 jumps is 82 a minute.
A bump on a touch board cannot change a running glass. To change it, press Pause and choose a glass, then Start the timer.
This glass is silent, like a real one, until you press Sound: off for Soft chime. More options adds Hand bell and Wood block.

Questions and answers

How do I flip the sand timer?

Press Flip it, which appears at a pause and at the end: the sand returns to the top bulb and waits for Start the timer. Undo takes a flip back. On a keyboard, R flips it the same way.

Why does my plastic sand timer not match this one?

A glass is fixed when it is made: its time depends on how much filling it holds, how coarse the grains are and how wide the neck is. This page reads the device clock, so the 2 minute glass runs for 120 seconds every time.

Is there a 1 minute, 5 minute or 10 minute sand timer?

Yes. Press 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 5 min or 10 min under Ready lengths. For longer, open the visual timer, which runs to 2 hours.

Is it a sand timer for the classroom?

Yes. Press Full screen and the hourglass fills the screen: a large visual countdown for the whole class. For kids, Fair turn with a shared toy gives each child one 2 minute glass.

All 18 routines

30 second glass 3

Describe the word round One player describes the word on a card without saying it, and the team guesses. At 0:10 the cue calls for a last guess. When the sand is gone, the cards pass to the next team. Cues: 0:10 Last guess.
Jump rope count Count the jumps until the sand runs out. Double the count for jumps per minute, because 30 seconds is half a minute: 41 jumps in one glass is 82 a minute.
Partner answer, then flip Partner A answers the question while the top bulb empties. Press Start again and partner B answers. Both get exactly the same time, and nobody talks for the whole minute.

1 minute glass 3

Drawing game turn One player draws, the team guesses, and the artist says nothing. At 0:15 the cue calls for last guesses. Flip it for the next artist. Cues: 0:15 Last guesses.
Each side speaks In a class debate, one side gets one full glass to make its point. Flip it, and the other side gets exactly the same. At 0:10 the speaker finishes the sentence. Cues: 0:10 Finish your sentence.
Sand race to the carpet Can everyone be sitting on the carpet before the top bulb is empty? The class races the glass, not each other. At 0:15 the cue tells pupils to find their spot. Cues: 0:15 Find your spot.

Show all 18 routines (12 more)

2 minute glass 3

Fair turn with a shared toy Two children want the same toy, so each gets one glass. At 0:20 the cue warns that the turn is ending, and handing the toy over is no surprise. Cues: 0:20 Turn ends soon. Get ready to swap.
Tooth brushing The NHS advises brushing two times daily, about 2 minutes a go. Stand a tablet by the sink and start with the top teeth. At 1:00 the cue says to move to the bottom teeth. Cues: 1:00 Halfway: now the bottom teeth.
Two minute talk A pupil speaks to the class on one topic for one glass, with no notes. At 0:30 the cue says to finish the last point. Cues: 0:30 Finish your last point.

3 minute glass 3

Beat the glass tidy-up The room is tidy before the sand runs out, or the glass wins. At 1:00 the floor should be clear. At 0:20 pupils stand behind their chairs. Cues: 1:00 Floor clear? Now the tables; 0:20 Stand behind your chair.
Quiet corner visit A pupil who asks for a break sits in the quiet corner and watches the sand fall. When the glass is empty, they come back to their seat. There are no cues, so nothing interrupts.
Story retell in three parts Retell a story in three parts of one minute each: the beginning, the middle and the ending. The cues name the part, so the teller knows when to move on. Cues: 2:00 Now the middle; 1:00 Now the ending.

5 minute glass 3

Class tablet turn One pupil uses the shared tablet or computer for one glass. At 0:45 the cue says to save the work and pass it on. Run the glass on the board so the next pupil can see the turn coming. Cues: 0:45 Save your work, then pass it on.
Instrument practice block One piece, one glass. Play the hard bars slowly first. At 1:00 the cue says to play the piece through once without stopping. Cues: 1:00 Play it through once, no stopping.
Sketch from observation Put one object on the table and draw only what you can see. At 1:00 the cue says to add the darkest shadows. Pencils down when the sand is gone. Cues: 1:00 Add the darkest shadows.

10 minute glass 3

Home reading glass Ten minutes of reading at home, with the glass on a phone beside the book. At 1:00 the cue says to finish the page. Cues: 1:00 Finish the page you are on.
One subject homework block One subject, one glass, then a break before the next subject. At 2:00 the cue says to check the work done so far. Cues: 2:00 Check what you have done so far.
Tower building challenge Teams build the tallest tower that stands by itself from paper and tape. At 5:00 the cue marks halfway. At 1:00 teams make their last fixes, and at 0:00 hands come off and you measure. Cues: 5:00 Halfway: is it standing alone?; 1:00 Last fixes. Hands off at 0:00.

How this list was compiled: Own work, written on 2026-09-19 from common classroom and home practice. Each routine names the glass it needs, and each cue is given as the time left when it appears. One outside fact was checked on 2026-09-19: the NHS advises brushing teeth two times daily, about 2 minutes a go (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/how-to-keep-your-teeth-clean/). The top-teeth-first order in that routine is our own suggestion, not NHS advice. The timings are suggestions, not rules or research findings. Licence: own work