Meditation timers
A meditation timer does one thing well: it gets out of the way. No streaks to defend, no announcements every minute, no breathwork prompts - just a clear start, a quiet middle, and a gentle bell when it's time to come back.
Today this category holds a single timer with the most-used silent-meditation lengths. As we add guided variants and longer retreats, they'll slot in here so the page stays the obvious entry point for sitting practice.
Which one to pick
There's one timer here for now - the silent meditation timer with four common session lengths.
Pick the meditation timer
When you want a quiet sit with a soft bell at the start and end. Choose 5 minutes for a quick reset, 10 or 20 for a regular daily practice, or 30 for a longer sitting.
Meditation timer →
Frequently asked questions
How long should I meditate for?
If you're starting out, 5 or 10 minutes is plenty - consistency beats length. Most regular practitioners settle into 20 minutes once or twice a day. Thirty-minute sittings start to access the deeper, settled states some traditions point at, but they're not required to benefit from the practice.
I'm new to meditation. Where do I start?
Pick 5 minutes, sit comfortably, and notice your breath. When your attention drifts - and it will - gently bring it back to the breath. That's the whole practice. Do that once a day for a week before reaching for longer sittings.
What sound does the timer make?
A soft bell at the start (so you know the timer caught) and a slightly longer bell at the end. No counting-down ticking, no mid-session prompts. You can also turn the start bell off in the audio settings if you want pure silence until the end.
Do I have to sit cross-legged on a cushion?
No. A chair with feet flat on the floor and a straight back works fine. The point is to be alert and comfortable enough to stay still - pain or strain becomes the only thing you can attend to, which defeats the practice. Pick a posture you can hold for the duration you've chosen.