Skip to content
HourpieSee the app

1 minute timer

A minute is short enough to feel long. Watch the pie shrink and you learn how long one really is.

1

1:00

Timer length
Pie color

Want it on your lock screen? See the free app

Practice the length of a minute

People misjudge a minute in both directions. Some call time early, others wait long after it ends. A one-minute timer gives you a fixed length to check against. Run it once while you sit still and once while you wash your hands. The minute feels shorter when you are busy.

A one-minute guessing drill

  1. Close your eyes, press Start, and open them when you think a minute has passed.
  2. Look at the pie. If some is left, you guessed early. If the timer is counting over, you guessed late.
  3. Run it again while you tidy a shelf, and compare the two guesses.
  4. Repeat the drill on a few days and see whether the gap between your guess and the pie changes.

What fits in 1 minute

In the classroom

  • Think time before students answer
  • A one-minute partner share
  • A quick "write one sentence" warm-up

At home and at work

  • Brushing one side of your teeth
  • A breathing break between tasks
  • Holding a stretch

Try this

Use a one-minute pie as think time after you ask a class a question. Nobody answers until the pie is empty.

The Hourpie app keeps a 1 minute timer on your lock screen.See the app

1 minute timer questions

How do I start a 1 minute timer?

Press Start. This page opens with the pie set to 1 minute. When time is up, the timer plays three soft tones and counts the time over.

Can I show it to a class or change the length?

Yes. For a class, turn on Projector colors and press Full screen. To change the length, tap another length under the pie, or drag around the pie to set any time from 1 to 180 minutes.

Why does one minute feel so long?

When you wait with nothing to do, you notice every second, so a minute feels longer than it is. Doing something during the minute makes it feel shorter. A timer shows the real length either way.

How can I get better at guessing a minute?

Practice with feedback. Guess when a minute has passed, check the pie, and repeat a few times a day. Each check shows you which way you were off.