Breath Hold Timer
Time a maximum breath hold on dry land. The 30-second preparation phase gives you time to settle and take a controlled breath, and you can skip it if you have already settled.
Each hold is saved in this browser with its date and time, so you can compare an attempt with your own earlier ones. This is a training reference, not a medical test.
Skip to the timer
Press Start when you are ready
Press Space to start and stop.
Your history
No times saved yet.
Results saved in this browser only. Your times are never sent.
Start from a preset
The same timer, with the result placed against published reference ranges when the hold ends.
- Average breath hold time by age — scores your hold against age-band and certification reference times
How to do a max breath-hold test
The point is a repeatable number, not the largest one you can survive. CO2 and O2 tables are scaled from it, so a rushed test produces a session at the wrong intensity.
- Stay on dry land. Sit or lie down somewhere stable, away from water. Never test a maximum hold in a pool, bath, or open water. This timer is for dry-land use; using it in water risks shallow water blackout.
- Settle your breathing for about two minutes. Calm and normal. Do not hyperventilate: rapid or repeated deep breaths lower carbon dioxide and blunt the warning while oxygen keeps falling, which is the mechanism behind hypoxic blackout.
- Take one comfortable full breath. Fill low to high in one smooth inhale. Full, not strained.
- Hold and stay still. Keep the jaw, shoulders, and hands loose. Involuntary breathing movements may appear; their timing varies between people and attempts and tells you nothing about how much oxygen is left.
- Stop early rather than late. End the hold at your limit and take calm recovery breaths. Stop for the day at any dizziness, confusion, or visual disturbance.
- Record one attempt per session. Repeat attempts drift, and note the conditions so the next number is comparable.
There is no meaningful published norm for untrained adults, so compare the reading with your own earlier attempts rather than with anyone else. Retest every few weeks. If you want the gentler measurement that stops at the first urge to breathe, use the CO2 baseline test instead, and read the safety guide before your first table.
Tips for a Better Breath Hold
Relax your body
Tension burns oxygen. Keep muscles loose, especially face and shoulders.
Don't hyperventilate
Take normal, deep breaths during preparation. Hyperventilating is dangerous.
Distract your mind
Count slowly or visualize something calming to take focus off the urge to breathe.
Practice regularly
Consistent training 3-4 times per week yields the best results.
Want guided training with progress tracking?
The BreathHold app includes CO2/O2 tables, breathing exercises, expert tutorials, and detailed analytics.
