What Is a Gym Timer?
A gym timer is a simple rest timer for weightlifting. Instead of running a fixed work and rest loop, it puts one big rest countdown front and centre. You lift your set, tap the button, and the rest between sets starts again from your chosen length. When the countdown hits zero it beeps so you know it is time to lift. No fiddling with your phone mid-workout — one tap logs the set and restarts the rest timer.
How Long Should You Rest Between Sets?
Rest length depends on what you are training for. As a rough guide:
- Endurance and hypertrophy - 30 to 90 seconds of rest between sets keeps the muscles under steady tension and the heart rate up
- Heavy strength - 2 to 5 minutes of rest lets the nervous system and muscles recover enough to move near-maximal loads
If you are chasing size, shorter rest around the 60 to 90 second mark works well for most hypertrophy sets. If you are lifting heavy for strength, give yourself the longer rest so each set is fresh. Set the rest timer to match your goal and stay consistent between sets.
Track Your Sets
Every time you tap “+ Set done”, the timer logs the set and restarts your rest countdown. The “Sets done” counter tallies how many sets you have completed, so you can keep an eye on your volume without writing it down. It is an easy way to make sure you hit every set on the day's plan and keep your rest between sets honest.
How to Use the Rest Timer
- Pick a rest length with a preset — 60s, 90s, 2 min or 3 min — or type a custom number of seconds
- Do your set
- Tap “+ Set done” — the set counter goes up and the rest countdown restarts
- Rest until the beep, then lift your next set
- Use Start and Pause to control the countdown, or Reset to clear the sets and start over
You can also press the spacebar to start or pause the rest timer without touching the screen.
Rest and Recovery Tips
- Match your rest to your goal — shorter for hypertrophy, longer for strength
- Keep rest between sets consistent so your workout stays comparable week to week
- Use the rest to breathe, reset your grip and set up for a clean next set
- Do not cut recovery short on heavy compound lifts — the extra rest pays off in reps
- Stay hydrated and keep moving lightly between sets to stay warm