Timer
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Finishes
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0:00
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My times
- Nothing saved yet. Saved times stay on this device — no account, nothing uploaded.
An audio file up to 1 MB. It stays in this browser and appears as "My sound" in the Sound list.
- Space
- Start or pause
- F
- Fullscreen
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- R
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- Add a minute
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- M
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Read next: How long is a 1,000-word speech? Times from 500 to 2,000 wordsAll 8 timers
Speech timer with green, amber and red lights
Pick the speech type, press start, and the screen turns green, amber then red at the right moments — the same signal a club timekeeper gives with cards.
The short answer
Toastmasters timing lights show green at the minimum time, amber one minute before the maximum, and red at the maximum. A speaker who finishes more than 30 seconds outside the range is normally disqualified from a contest. Pick a speech type below and those points are set for you.
Three steps to a timer on the wall
Step 1: Choose a time
Pick a preset or set your own. The timer remembers what you used last on this device.
Step 2: Press start
Start the timer, then press F or the fullscreen button to fill the screen.
Step 3: Run the room
Space pauses, the up arrow adds a minute, R resets. Fullscreen shows the timer alone, with no ads and no navigation.
Four things worth knowing
Put the screen where the speaker can see it
The point of timing lights is that the speaker self-corrects. A laptop turned towards the lectern, or a tablet on the front table, does the job — the audience does not need to see it.
Colour is the signal, sound is optional
Clubs signal with colour, not noise. Sound is off by default here for that reason. Turn it on only if the timer is out of the speaker's line of sight.
The timer counts up, like a timekeeper's watch
It shows time elapsed rather than time remaining, which matches how the role is actually performed and makes reporting the time afterwards straightforward.
Overtime keeps running
The clock does not stop at red. It keeps counting so you can report the exact time, which matters in contests where anything more than 30 seconds over the maximum is disqualifying.
Green, amber and red for every speech type
The standard timings used in club meetings and contests, from Toastmasters International.
| Speech | Range | Green | Amber | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Breaker (Level 1) | 4–6 min | 4:00 | 5:00 | 6:00 |
| Most prepared speeches | 5–7 min | 5:00 | 6:00 | 7:00 |
| Evaluation | 2–3 min | 2:00 | 2:30 | 3:00 |
| Table Topics response | 1–2 min | 1:00 | 1:30 | 2:00 |
| Grammarian / ah-counter report | 2–3 min | 2:00 | 2:30 | 3:00 |
In contests, finishing more than 30 seconds outside the range means disqualification. In ordinary club meetings the range is treated as guidance.
No ads on your big screen
Ads pay for this page, and they stay on this page. The moment the timer goes fullscreen there is nothing on screen but the time — no banners, no navigation, no surprises in front of a room.
- Fullscreen shows the timer alone
- Ad sounds can never clash with the alarm
- Saved times stay on your device — no account
- Works with an ad blocker, and offline once loaded
Questions people ask
Anything we've missed?
What are the Toastmasters timing lights?
Green shows when the speaker reaches the minimum time, amber one minute before the maximum, and red at the maximum. They tell the speaker to begin wrapping up without interrupting them.
How long is each type of speech?
The Ice Breaker is 4–6 minutes, most prepared speeches are 5–7, evaluations are 2–3, and Table Topics responses are 1–2. Reports from the grammarian, ah-counter and timer are usually 2–3 minutes.
What is the 30-second rule?
In contests, a speaker who finishes more than 30 seconds under the minimum or over the maximum is disqualified. In ordinary club meetings it is treated as guidance rather than a rule.
Can I set my own times?
Yes. Any preset can be adjusted, or you can set green, amber and red to whatever your format needs — useful for conference slots, lightning talks and school presentations.
Does the timekeeper still need to report the time?
Yes. The timer keeps counting past red and shows the final elapsed time, so you can read out each speaker's time during the timer's report.
Will it work on a tablet?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser, and fullscreen on a tablet propped on the front table is a common way clubs use it.
Time something specific
Guides worth reading
- Public speaking
How long is a 1,000-word speech? Times from 500 to 2,000 words
A 1,000-word speech takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds to 7 minutes 42 seconds at a normal pace. Times for 500 to 2,000 words, with pauses and slides.
5 min read - Public speaking
How many words is a 5-minute speech? Word counts from 1 to 20 minutes
A 5-minute speech is about 650 to 750 words at a normal pace. Word counts from 1 to 20 minutes, how to find your own pace, and how to time a practice run.
6 min read - Toastmasters
Toastmasters timing rules: green, amber and red for every speech type
What the timing lights mean, the exact times for every speech type, and the 30-second rule that disqualifies contestants. Plus how to run the timer role.
6 min read
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