How to use the 30 second timer
- It’s set to 0:30. Press Start or Space.
- Other lengths: tap a chip from 10 s to 60 s, or click the digits and type
20,45,130for 1:30 or230for 2:30. - For drills, set Rounds and Rest between rounds: 8 rounds with a 10 s rest take 5:10.
- Enter or ↻ Restart starts over from the top at any moment.
- Press F for fullscreen.
Speed rounds, holds and 30-second answers
- Quiz answers. Each team gets 30 seconds; the buzzer ends the answer and Enter starts the next one. For passing games, the cartoon bomb timer adds a fuse.
- Shot-clock-style drills. A coach restarts the count with one key for each possession. NCAA men’s basketball moved to a 30-second shot clock in 2015 (NCAA); NBA (Rule No. 7) and FIBA games use 24 seconds.
- Holds. A 30-second wall sit or plank with the phone on the floor; the buzzer says stop.
- Clips and pitches. Rehearse a 30-second ad read or video intro. For a full minute, open the 1 minute timer.
Repeat rounds with a short rest
Set Rounds from 2 to 99 and a Rest between rounds of 0, 5, 10 or 15 seconds; rest needs 2 or more rounds. The total is rounds × length plus the rests between them:
| Set | Total time |
|---|---|
| 20 rounds × 30 s, no rest | 10:00 |
| 8 rounds × 30 s, 10 s rest | 5:10 |
| 15 rounds × 30 s, 10 s rest | 9:50 |
During a rest the ring disappears and Next round in sits above the seconds left. A high pip ends each round; with a rest, three get-ready pips lead to the next round and one more pip starts it. The buzzer waits for the last round. Unequal work and rest suit the interval timer, and 20/10 sets the Tabata timer.
Restart instantly with Enter
Press Enter, or the ↻ Restart button, and the timer jumps back to round 1 with the full length and runs, whatever it was doing. There’s no “are you sure?” step, and a ringing buzzer stops at once. Space still pauses. While the timer runs, Reset moves to the toolbar, and R still resets.
The buzzer, pips and tenths
At the final zero the Buzzer sounds once; Sound, Test sound and Ring for change, preview and lengthen it. Below 10 seconds the digits switch to tenths at full size. 3-2-1 pips before each zero are off here; switch them on to hear a countdown. M mutes everything.
Options explained
- Sound: Buzzer, rung once (Ring for: Once). Volume: 70 %.
- Show tenths: Last 10 s, or Off and Last minute. 3-2-1 pips: off.
- Count overtime: on, so after zero the digits count up (
+0:02) under Over by. Flash at zero: on. - Progress: Ring. Warnings: none, up to three.
- Theme, Keep screen on, the tab title and icon, Notify me when time is up and Clear my data behave as on other HugeTimer timers.
- Rounds and Rest between rounds are remembered; the length returns to 0:30 next visit.
How it works
Each round’s end is stored as a moment on your device clock; the digits show that moment minus the current time, so they can’t drift. Rounds and rests are chained from your Start, so 8 rounds with 10 s rests end 5:10 later unless you pause. Every pip and the buzzer are booked ahead on the audio clock, so a background tab doesn’t delay them. After sleep, the timer jumps to the right round and phase, playing only the latest cue if it’s under a minute old. Read how our timers stay accurate.
Tips and limits
- Keep the tab open; a closed tab or a sleeping device can’t sound the buzzer.
- A locked phone may pause the page until you unlock it.
- On iPhone the timer fills the window; web pages can’t go truly fullscreen there.
- To ring at 2:30 pm instead, use the alarm clock.
- OBS Studio is a trademark of its owner; HugeTimer is not affiliated with it.
FAQ
How do I set a 30 second timer?
It's ready at 0:30, so press Start or Space. If you've changed the length, tap the 30 s chip, or click the digits, type 30 and press Enter. After that, Enter restarts the full 30 seconds at any moment. It's free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up.
Can it repeat by itself?
Yes. Set Rounds to anything from 2 to 99; the summary shows the total, such as “20 rounds · 10:00 total”. A high pip ends each round, the next starts on its own, and the buzzer waits for the last. Round 3 / 8 under the digits shows where you are.
Can I add a 10-second break between rounds?
Yes. With 2 or more rounds, choose 5, 10 or 15 seconds under Rest between rounds. Each rest shows Next round in with the seconds left, then three get-ready pips and a start pip lead into the next round. Eight 30-second rounds with 10-second rests take 5:10.
How do I restart the 30 second timer quickly?
Press Enter or tap ↻ Restart: either one starts again from round 1 with the full length, whether the timer was running, paused, ringing or done, with no confirm step. Enter works when no button or text field has keyboard focus; on a focused button it presses that button instead.
Can I see tenths of a second?
Yes. Tenths are on for the last 10 seconds, counting 9.9 down to 0.1 at full size. Set Show tenths to Last minute to see them through the whole final minute, or to Off for whole seconds only. The tab title always shows whole seconds.
How do I change it to 20 or 45 seconds?
Tap the 20 s or 45 s chip, or click the digits, type 20 or 45 and press Enter. A chip sets the length without starting it; Enter in the field sets it and starts. Typing 130 gives 1:30, and your rounds and rest stay as they were.
Can I use it as a 30-second shot clock?
Yes, for practice. Put it on a TV beside the court and press Enter for each new possession. NCAA men's basketball switched to a 30-second shot clock in 2015, while the NBA and FIBA use 24 seconds, so type 24 for those drills. It isn't an official game clock.
Can I use it for quiz or game rounds?
Yes. The buzzer ends each answer, tenths show the final seconds, and Enter starts the next question straight away. Add label can name the round, such as Question 4. For a live stream, Share → Copy OBS link copies a link for a transparent overlay.
Updated