# 18 Minute Timer > 18 minute timer for TED length talks, sprints, and timed tasks, with an alarm at zero and a count-up after. Free, runs locally in your browser, no signup. - **Canonical URL:** https://boringtoolskit.com/eighteen-minute-timer/ - **Category:** Timers - **Evidence level:** authored-methodology - **Reviewed:** 2026-09-22 - **Last verified:** 2026-10-18 - **Privacy:** Inputs and results stay in this browser unless the page clearly labels an external request. ## How it works An 18-minute countdown timer starts at 1080 seconds, counts down to zero, rings, then counts up until dismissed, so any overrun past the mark is visible. ## Worked example You rehearse a talk against the clock at 2:00; the ring at 2:18 tells you to be at your closing slide. The talk comes in at 19:40 on the count-up, so you know to cut 100 seconds, most easily the second example in section three. ## Assumptions - The timer counts down 18 minutes, rings once, then counts up until dismissed; it requires the browser tab to remain open. - TED's 18-minute rule applies to its main-stage format; other TEDx and conference formats may set different limits. - Speaking-pace figures are common public-speaking guidelines, not guarantees; individual delivery speed varies. ## Common questions ### Why are TED talks 18 minutes? TED caps main-stage talks at 18 minutes because, in Chris Anderson's framing, it is long enough to develop a serious idea and short enough to hold attention and force tight, well-edited arguments. The rule has shaped the format since his tenure began in 2001. ### How many slides fit in an 18-minute talk? A common pacing guideline is roughly one to two minutes per substantive slide, so around 10 to 15 content slides, though strong speakers vary widely. Timing the actual run-through matters more than counting slides. ### How long a script fits 18 minutes? Spoken delivery runs about 130 to 150 words per minute, so a script of roughly 2,300 to 2,700 words fills 18 minutes. Rehearse aloud, because silent reading is faster than speaking. ### What happens when the 18-minute timer reaches zero? It rings and then starts counting up from zero until dismissed, so if you run past the mark you can see exactly how long the overrun was. ### Is 18 minutes a good study session length? Yes, it is roughly a longer pomodoro: long enough to get past the settling-in phase into real work, short enough to fit between other commitments. Keep the session single-task and end with a note on where to resume. ### Can I use an 18-minute timer for a workout? Yes, it fits a circuit of six 3-minute blocks, three 6-minute blocks, or an 18-minute run or walk. Plan the structure first so the ring ends a complete session. ### Will the timer still run if I switch to presenter mode? The countdown usually continues while the tab stays open, including in a background tab on desktop. If your presentation software runs fullscreen in a different app, test the switch beforehand or use a visible countdown on your notes screen. ## Related tools - /twenty-minute-timer/ - /fifteen-minute-timer/ - /twelve-minute-timer/ ## Sources - [TED Talks usage policy / talk format](https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/tedx-organizer-guide/speakers-program/prepare-your-speaker/rehearsals) - [TED (conference)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)) --- *Local planning estimate. Verify current terms, rates, and policies before acting.*