Run a timer with a realistic sand hourglass

Free online hourglass timer with a real granular sand simulation. Set any duration from seconds to hours, pick a focus or meditation preset, and watch the sand pile up grain by grain into a cone. Flip the glass to start again.

How to Use the Hourglass Timer

Set your time

Type hours, minutes and seconds, or tap a preset like Focus or Meditation.

Start the timer

Press Start and the sand begins to flow through the neck of the glass.

Flip to restart

When the sand runs out, press Flip — or enable tilt and turn your device over.

Go fullscreen

Open the ambient fullscreen view for a calm, distraction-free countdown.

A calm sand timer for focus, cooking and meditation

Features

Real sand physics — grains pile into a cone, not a flat bar Any duration from one second up to 99 hours Presets for focus, meditation, eggs, breaks and naps Flip to restart, or turn your phone over to flip it Loop mode auto-flips for endless ambient timing Wood, brass and crystal frames with five sand colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The countdown uses absolute timestamps, so it stays accurate in a background tab. The sand catches up to the correct level when you return.

Is the sand a real simulation?

Yes. Each frame the sand is reconciled to the elapsed time, while a granular relaxation model piles it into a realistic cone at the natural angle of repose.

Can I set hours, not just minutes?

Yes. You can set any duration from one second up to 99 hours, using the hours, minutes and seconds fields.

What does flipping do?

Flipping restarts the timer for the full duration, just like turning over a real hourglass.

Can I flip it by turning my phone?

Yes. Enable the tilt option and physically turn your device over to flip the hourglass.

Will it make any sound?

A soft sand hiss plays while the timer runs and a gentle chime sounds at the end. You can mute both with the sound toggle.

💡 Want us to improve this tool just for you?

We can — and it's free! Just send us a quick message with your idea. If you'd like to discuss it in detail, leave your email and we'll get back to you. You can stay anonymous.

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Who is this tool for?

🎓 Students 📚 Educators & Teachers 👨‍👩‍👧 Parents & Families 🧘 Wellness & Meditation 📋 Productivity

Published 18 May 2026 Updated 21 May 2026