How to use the 3D Sand Timer
- Choose a time. Use the − and + buttons, press a number key (3 for three minutes), or pick a quick time in Settings.
- Flip it. Press Space, click Flip or click the hourglass. It turns over and the sand starts to run.
- Pause if you need to. Press Space again to hold the sand where it is, and once more to carry on.
- Hear the end. A soft chime plays when the last grain falls. Turn it off, or hide the time left, in Settings.
Classroom ideas
- Calm transitions: a sand timer feels gentler than digits counting down — try it for tidy-up time or getting ready to go home.
- Turn-taking: give each speaker in a group discussion one flip of a 1-minute timer.
- Thinking time: flip a 30-second timer after asking a question, and only take answers when the sand has run.
- Estimation: ask pupils to guess when half the sand has gone, then show the time left to check.
- Keep it on the Classroom Board for independent work, next to the countdown timer for older pupils.
Keyboard shortcuts
| 1 – 9 | Set 1 to 9 minutes |
| 0 | Set 10 minutes |
| T | Show or hide the time left |
| C | Next sand color |
| F | Present full screen |
Frequently asked questions
Does the sand really show how much time is left?
Yes. The sand is drawn from the time left, by volume: the top level falls slowly while the bulb is wide and faster near the neck, just like a real hourglass, and the pile grows underneath.
Can I pause a sand timer?
Yes — unlike a real one. Press Space and the sand stops mid-fall; press it again and it carries on.
Will it keep time if I switch tabs or reload?
Yes. It stores when the sand will run out, not a count, so it never drifts, and the chime is booked on the audio clock so it rings on time in a background tab.
My computer shows a flat hourglass. Why?
Your browser cannot show 3D graphics here, so the sand timer switches to a flat drawing that works the same way.
Can I use other times than the presets?
Yes. Type any number of minutes from 1 to 60 in Settings, or use the − and + buttons.
Updated October 31, 2026 · Free to use in any classroom, no account needed.