Quick answer
Two minutes, twice a day, is how long the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth. It is also the limit in David Allen's two-minute rule for small tasks and the cook time on many instant noodles. Playxoft's free 2 minute timer is preset: press Start or the Space key and it sounds an alarm at zero. Tap +1 min if you need longer.
- Set to 2 minutes
- Alarm rings in background tabs
- Multiple timers
- Six alarm sounds
- Fullscreen focus mode
How to use this 2 minute timer
- 1The timer is already set to 2 minutes. Press Start or the Space key to begin.
- 2Optional: name it (for example "Brush teeth"), pick an alarm Sound, and turn on Repeat to run it again automatically.
- 3While it runs, use +1 min or the quick chips to adjust, and Focus mode for fullscreen digits.
- 4When the alarm rings, press Dismiss, or Snooze 5 min for more time.
What is a 2 minute timer good for?
- Brushing your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day. Most people stop well short of that without a timer.
- The two-minute rule for tasks. In David Allen's *Getting Things Done*, any action that takes less than two minutes should be done right away rather than added to a list.
- The two-minute rule for habits. James Clear's *Atomic Habits* suggests shrinking a new habit to a version that takes two minutes or less, such as reading one page.
- Instant noodles and quick snacks. Many instant noodles cook in two to three minutes; check the packet.
- Rest between sets. Two minutes is a common rest period between heavier strength sets.
- Clean-up races. Two minutes to pick up as many toys as possible turns tidying into a game for kids.
How long should you brush your teeth?
Two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste, is the recommendation from the American Dental Association. A simple way to cover every surface is to spend about 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth: upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right.
Start the timer before the brush goes in, and leave the screen where you can see it. For a cue every 30 seconds, use the 30 second timer with Repeat on and stop after the fourth chime. Many electric toothbrushes have a two-minute timer built in; this one is for everyone else, and for kids who like to watch the ring run down.
Tips for using a 2 minute timer
- Choose the Marimba sound for kids; it is bright and friendly.
- Add this page to your phone's home screen for a one-tap brushing timer.
- Use the two-minute rule with Repeat: every time the alarm goes, pick the next quick task.
- Need a little longer? Tap +1 min while it runs, or type
2:30.
How many seconds is 2 minutes?
2 minutes is 120 seconds, or 0.033 of an hour.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Seconds | 120 |
| Minutes | 2 |
| Hours | 0.0333 |
| Back to back in one hour | 30 |
| Back to back in one day | 720 |
With Repeat on, this timer goes off 30 times an hour, which makes it a dependable interval reminder.
Need a different length?
- Shorter: 1 minute timer, 30 second timer
- Longer: 3 minute timer, 4 minute timer
- Any length: the online timer takes whatever you type, for example
2:30. - Focus sessions with breaks: the Pomodoro timer.
- Work and rest rounds: the interval timer.
- Counting up with laps: the stopwatch.
Frequently asked questions
Last updated by the Playxoft engineering team.