Online Breathing Timer
Pick a rhythm, then follow the phase labels and countdown. Use a short session or a fixed number of complete breathing rounds.
Ready
00:00
Keep this page open and your device audible. Screen locking or background suspension may delay sounds. Return to the page to update the time.
Stay comfortable; stop and breathe normally if you feel lightheaded. Sound cues: one tone to inhale, two to hold, three to exhale.
Pick a breathing pattern
- Equal breathing: four seconds in and four out, with no hold.
- 4-7-8: four seconds in, seven holding and eight out.
- Slow breathing: five seconds in and five out, giving about six complete breaths a minute.
- Custom: set inhale and exhale from one to fifteen seconds and hold from zero to fifteen. Zero skips the hold.
For four equal stages and a visual square, use the separate box breathing timer. That page includes the second hold after breathing out.
How to follow the guide
Read Inhale, Hold or Exhale in the center and follow the seconds underneath. Breathe gently rather than filling or emptying your lungs as far as possible. The text guide works without a moving circle, so you can follow it without tracking a growing animation.
Turn on phase cue sounds before starting if you prefer to listen. One tone marks an inhale, two a hold, and three an exhale. Keep your device volume low and try a few phases with your eyes open before relying on the sounds. Pause freezes the planned rhythm; Resume continues with the time left in that phase.
How long to breathe with the timer
Begin with a minute or a few rounds to see whether the rhythm fits. With Rounds selected, the session ends after a complete exhale. With Minutes selected, it ends at the requested time even if that is midway through a phase. There is no need to extend an uncomfortable session.
Breathing timer vs breathing meditation
A breathing timer sets the pace. Breathing meditation uses the breath as an anchor for attention and can leave its rhythm entirely natural. You can use the pacer for a brief transition, then turn it off and notice ordinary breathing during a five-minute sit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good breathing pace to start with?
Try equal breathing: four seconds in and four seconds out, without holds. If that feels too slow, shorten both parts using Custom. A comfortable rhythm matters more than a target pace.
What is 4-7-8 breathing?
Here the preset guides a four-second inhale, a seven-second pause and an eight-second exhale. It has no pause after the exhale. These durations may not suit everyone; choose a shorter custom rhythm or stop if uncomfortable.
Can I use this with my eyes closed?
Yes, with Phase cue sounds enabled and the page kept open: one tone means inhale, two mean hold and three mean exhale. Try the cues with your eyes open first. Muted devices or suspended browsers may not play them.
How is this different from box breathing?
This tool offers two- or three-phase patterns with separately adjustable durations. Box breathing uses four equal phases, including a pause after the out-breath, with its own square guide.