The Best Kitchen Timers

Antonki Two-Pack Digital Kitchen Timer

Simple convenience

This awesome two-pack of high-quality kitchen timers can take care of all of your countdown needs.

Best Overall

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If simple convenience is what you’re after, then this fantastic two-pack of digital timers from Antonki is just what you’ve been looking for. The numbers are large and easy to see, and setting the timer itself takes mere seconds. Once it’s done counting down — or up — the alarm will sound. It’s nice and loud to ensure you can hear it. As a bonus, setting it up wherever you want is easy due to the attached stand and the magnet on the back.

Pros:

• You can choose from a few colors for a little added fun
• This two-pack is very affordable
• One battery lasts for up to 18 months

Cons:

• The alarm doesn’t ring for long
• They aren’t quite as durable as we’d like

Colortrak Wind Up Timer

Easy to use

There's nothing easier or more straightforward than this classically designed timer.

Best Classic

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This traditionally-styled timer from Colortrak is one of our favorites because of its vintage style and ease of use. All you need to do is turn the simple knob to the time you need, up to sixty minutes, and let it count down for you. When the time is up, it goes off with a simple bell sound. There are no batteries, displays, or other components to worry about. It’s just a straightforward wind-up timer with printed numbers and lines to keep track of the minutes — no complications or frustration.

Pros:

• The price is super affordable
• It’s versatile and can be used for cooking, baking, salons, and more
• The alarm is loud, yet not loud enough to be painful or annoying

Cons:

• It’s only available in one color
• You can only set it up to sixty minutes

Secura Mechanical Kitchen Timer

Boldly built

This large, brightly-colored timer looks great and keeps perfect time.

Largest Display

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Whether you struggle to see clearly or you just like the look of a large display, Secura’s kitchen timer could be just what you need. It runs mechanically, which means no batteries or power cords are required. Two foldable legs hold it up on your table or counter along with two powerful magnets that can hold it in place on any magnetic surface. The bright colors and large numbers make it stand out so that it’s easy to see and keep track of, even from across the room.

Pros:

• The variety of fun colors make it easy to pick one to suit your kitchen
• It’s easy to use for both adults and kids
• We love using it for cooking, schoolwork, chores, and more

Cons:

• This timer is pricey
• The alarm itself isn’t very loud, so you may not be able to hear it from another room

Red Dollar Cute Kitchen Timer

Adorably designed

We love this cute and colorful kitchen timer, and we think your family will, too.

Best For Kids

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Getting kids to focus can be challenging, and keeping them on task can be even harder. That’s why a timer designed specifically for them, like this one from Red Dollar, is a fantastic choice for families. It comes in lots of adorable styles, including monsters, cats, owls, bugs, and more. As a bonus, using it is super simple and requires no batteries, hard-to-read displays, or even a switch. They just need to turn it and let it count down.

Pros:

• The bright colors and fun designs keep kids excited
• It’s affordable
• Because it’s not electronic, it can be used anywhere easily

Cons:

• The alarm will likely only be heard in one room
• Kids will need to learn to turn it past 55 and back again

Kate Aspen Kitchen Egg Timer

Affordably awesome

Get this well-priced egg timer and count up your savings while you count down the time.

Best On A Budget

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Egg timers are inherently kind of adorable, and this one from Kate Aspen is especially cute. It’s also cheaper than most, which makes it even better. It comes packaged in a sweet little box that turns into a nest for added fun. We appreciate how easy it is to use, and we especially like that it’s mechanical, so there are no batteries to remember. When you put all that together, you get a reliable timer that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. What more could we ask for?

Pros:

• It’s so easy to use that even kids can operate it alone
• The packaging is perfect for gifting
• When the alarm goes off, you can hear it from another room

Cons:

• The numbers can smear if they get too wet
• We wish it were a bit more durable

Frequently Asked Questions

What are timers usually used for?

Timers are helpful for all kinds of things, some of which you may not even think about. For example, we like to use them for cooking and baking, especially when we need multiple timers going at once. Teachers like them for keeping track of tests and other activities, and kids use them for brushing their teeth, keeping track of screen time, and even counting down their timeout.

Which type of timer is better — digital or mechanical?

Whether you prefer a digital timer or a mechanical timer is entirely based on your needs. Digital timers are often better in the kitchen because they can be set for nearly any amount of time. They are the best option when you need to cook something for hours on end. However, many find mechanical timers to be more reliable and easier to use. We suggest picking up one of each and seeing which works best for you and your family.