How accurate is the countdown timer?

The timer updates every second using your browser's system clock. Accuracy depends on your device's clock accuracy. For sub-second precision, this tool is not designed; it rounds down to the nearest second.

Does the timer keep running when I close the tab?

No - the JavaScript timer only runs while the page is open. However, because the countdown is calculated from your target date each second, reopening the page will always show the correct remaining time.

Can I share a countdown with someone?

Yes. Click "Copy shareable link" to copy a URL that encodes your target date and label. Anyone who opens that link will see the same countdown.

What happens when the countdown reaches zero?

The display switches to "elapsed" mode, showing how long ago the event passed (e.g., "3 hours ago").

How many countdowns can I save?

You can save up to 10 countdowns in your browser's local storage. They persist until you clear your browser data. Clicking any saved countdown loads it into the main display.

Countdown Timer - Free Online Countdown to Any Date

What is a countdown timer?

A countdown timer counts down from a future date and time to zero, displaying the remaining days, hours, minutes, and seconds. This free online countdown timer updates live in your browser, with no app, no sign-up, and no ads.

Popular uses for countdown timers

Holidays and celebrations: count down to Christmas, New Year's, a birthday, or an anniversary.
Product launches and events: build anticipation for a launch day, conference, or concert.
Deadlines and exams: stay aware of how much time remains before an important due date.
Travel: count down to departure day for a vacation or trip.
Sports events: keep track of the days until the big game or race day.

How to share a countdown

After entering a target date and optional label, click Copy shareable link. The link encodes your target date and label in the URL (e.g., ?to=2026-12-31T23:59:59&label=New+Year). Anyone who opens the link will see the same countdown ticking in their own browser.

Does the countdown work when the tab is closed?

The live display requires an open browser tab, but the countdown itself is date-based: not timer-based. When you reopen the page, it recalculates the correct remaining time from your target date. Nothing is stored on a server; everything lives in your browser.

Countdown vs. timer: what's the difference?

A countdown timer counts down to a specific future date (e.g., December 31 at midnight). A timer counts down from a fixed duration you set (e.g., 10 minutes). This tool is a countdown to a date. For a fixed-duration timer, see our Pomodoro Timer.

Browser notification support

If your browser supports the Notifications API and you grant permission, the countdown can trigger a desktop notification when it reaches zero - even if the tab is in the background. Note that notifications require an open browser tab; a fully closed browser cannot deliver web notifications.

Time zone awareness

The countdown targets the specified date and time in your local time zone, as reported by your device. If you are counting down to a midnight ball drop in a different city, set the target time for that city’s midnight and account for the time zone difference manually. The countdown URL encodes the target as an ISO 8601 datetime string without an explicit offset, so it will reflect local time wherever the link is opened.