Plank timer
Counts down 1 min, then beeps.
Space start/pause R reset Esc stop
Settings
Counts down 1 min, then beeps.
01
What this one is for
A plank timer exists because holding a plank without one turns into guessing, and the guess is always generous. Set the hold, get on the floor, and the last three seconds tick so you know it is nearly over without lifting your head to check the screen. The beep at zero is the only permission to drop.
For most beginners a first honest plank is 20 to 30 seconds with a flat back and no sagging hips. Sixty seconds is a solid target and the number worth training towards. Two minutes with good form is genuinely strong, and past that you are mostly testing patience rather than adding much. Form fails before the clock does, so stop when the hips drop rather than riding the timer to zero.
A simple progression: hold your current best three times with a minute of rest, and add five seconds a session until 60 feels routine, then work on side planks and longer holds. If you would rather train planks as repeated sets with the rest timed too, the interval timer runs work and rest pairs on a loop so you never touch the screen mid-set.
02
Good for
- A 30 or 60 second plank hold
- Side planks and dead bugs
- Adding five seconds a session
- Plank challenges and tests
- Any hold where form beats duration
03
How it runs
Counts down 1 min, then beeps. Press Start, or hit Space. The digits turn green while a work block runs and grey on rest.
Sound is on by default: a rising pair for work, a falling pair for rest, a tick for the last three seconds and a three-note finish. Mute with the speaker button. The screen stays on while the timer runs and the tab title shows the time left.
Change anything in Settings under the timer. The last setup you used on this page is remembered in your browser.
Questions people ask
- How long should I hold a plank?
- Beginners hold 20 to 30 seconds with good form. Sixty seconds is a solid target and two minutes is strong. Stop when your hips drop, not when the clock says so.
- Is a five minute plank worth training for?
- Not really for most people. Past about two minutes you are training endurance of a static hold rather than much core strength. Harder variations beat longer holds.
- Do I get a warning before it ends?
- Yes. The last three seconds tick, then a three-note tone at zero, so you can keep your head down and still know where you are.
- Can I do repeated planks with rest between?
- Use the interval timer. Set work and rest and it loops, so you are not restarting a countdown from the floor.