18 Minute Timer
READY
18:00
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Common uses for a 18 minute timer
- TED Talk rehearsal
- Conference presentation practice
- Focused work sprints
- Classroom presentations
- Keynote rehearsal
TED curator Chris Anderson chose 18 minutes because it is 'long enough to be serious and short enough to hold people's attention.' It has become a benchmark for high-quality public speaking.
18 minutes is the maximum length of a TED Talk — chosen because research suggests it is long enough to deliver a complex idea but short enough to maintain full audience attention.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 18 minutes the TED Talk limit?
TED chose 18 minutes as the sweet spot between depth and attention. It forces speakers to distill ideas to their essence — a constraint that often improves presentation quality.
How should I use the 18 minute timer for rehearsal?
Run through your presentation at full pace without stopping. If you finish early, you have room to breathe or add content. If you run over, cut until you fit comfortably inside 18 minutes.