What Is an Agenda Timer?
An agenda timer is a meeting timer that runs through a list of agenda items, giving each one its own time limit. Instead of a single countdown, you set up your whole agenda — "Intros 5 min, Updates 10 min, Decisions 15 min, Wrap-up 5 min" — press start, and the timer moves from item to item automatically, chiming as each one ends. It is the simplest way to keep a meeting, class, or workshop on schedule.
How to Use the Agenda Timer
- Add your items - Type each agenda item and set its minutes. Use "Add item" for as many as you need.
- Check the total - The running total shows how long the whole meeting will take.
- Start the agenda - The first item begins counting down and the list shows what is coming up.
- Move through it - Each item chimes when its time is up and the next one starts automatically. Use Skip to move on early, or Pause to hold.
- Edit anytime - Jump back to change items and times, then start again.
Why Timebox Your Meetings
Meetings expand to fill the time available, and a single overrunning topic often eats the whole hour. Giving each agenda item a fixed slot — timeboxing — forces decisions, protects the topics at the end of the list, and respects everyone's time. An agenda timer makes the limit visible and audible so the conversation naturally moves on.
Great For
- Team meetings and standups - Keep updates tight and leave room for decisions
- Workshops and training - Move cleanly between sections and exercises
- Classrooms - Run timed stations, activities, or lesson segments
- Interviews and panels - Give each stage or speaker an equal slot
- Presentations and demos - Stay on pace across multiple parts
- Study sessions - Block out topics and breaks in one run
Tips
- Add a short buffer item at the end for questions and overruns
- Keep the first item short to get the meeting moving
- Share your screen so everyone can see the current item and time left
- Use Skip when a topic finishes early — the saved time flows to the total