FREE TOOL · NO SIGN-UP · GENTLE BELLS
Meditation timer with gentle bells and interval chimes
A free, simple meditation timer with a soft start and end bell, optional interval chimes and a short settling countdown. No sign-up, works on your phone.
Meditation timer
Keep this page open. Nothing is recorded.
The short answer
Pick a length you can keep daily, such as 5 minutes, press start and let the bell mark the beginning and the end. Sit comfortably, rest your attention on your breath and return to it each time you notice your mind has wandered. Practicing most days matters more than long sessions.
A 5-minute meditation for beginners
- Sit comfortably. A chair is fine. Feet on the floor, hands resting, eyes closed or looking softly at the floor.
- Press start and take three slower breaths. Let the settling countdown do its job.
- Rest your attention on the breath. Pick one place to notice it: the nose, the chest or the belly.
- When your mind wanders, notice and come back. This will happen many times. Each return is a repetition, like a lift at the gym.
- At the bell, pause before you get up. Notice how you feel, without judging it.
How long should you meditate?
| Stage | Length | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| First week | 3 to 5 minutes | Same time and place each day, for example after coffee |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | 5 to 10 minutes | Add 1 to 2 minutes when the current length feels easy |
| After a month | 10 to 20 minutes | Try a 5-minute interval bell to mark a switch to a body scan |
Daily practice counts for more than long sessions. See how long to meditate as a beginner, what to do when your mind wanders and the best time of day to meditate.
Make it a daily habit
A timer helps you sit; a routine helps you come back tomorrow. The 30-day meditation plan for beginners adds one small step a day, and you can build a meditation plan around your own day.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a beginner meditate?
Start with 3 to 5 minutes a day. In one study of adults who meditated on their own, how often they practiced mattered more than session length, so a short daily sit is a good place to begin.
What are interval bells for?
A soft chime every few minutes can bring your attention back if it has drifted, or mark a change, such as moving from the breath to a body scan. Leave them off if they feel distracting.
Will the timer work with my screen off?
The timer keeps counting, but many phones pause sound in background tabs. Keep the page open; the timer asks your phone to keep the screen awake where the browser supports it.
Is it normal for my mind to wander?
Yes. Noticing that your mind has wandered and gently coming back is the practice itself, not a sign of failure.
Is meditation safe for everyone?
It is usually low risk, but some people find it brings up difficult feelings. Stop if it feels distressing, and talk to a health professional if you have a mental health condition.
Sources and evidence
- Basso et al. (2019): Brief, daily meditation in non-experienced meditators — 13 minutes of daily guided meditation improved mood and some attention measures after 8 weeks, but not after 4.
- Bowles and Van Dam (2025): Dose-response effects of reported meditation practice — How often people practiced predicted outcomes more strongly than how long each session was.
- NCCIH (2022): Meditation and mindfulness, effectiveness and safety — Meditation is usually low risk, but it should not replace conventional care.