Segment 1 of 7
Affirmative Constructive (AC)
Aff0:00
Keyboard: Space to start or pause, R to reset, N for next.
Free debate tool
Free Debate Timer
A free online debate timer with Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, and Parliamentary presets, prep clocks for each side, and audio bells. No signup, no servers, works offline.
How to use the debate timer
- 1
Pick a debate format
Choose Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, British Parliamentary, or Custom from the format menu. Each preset loads the standard segment lengths.
- 2
Adjust segments if needed
Edit any speech length, rename a segment, or add new ones. Changes save to this browser so the layout is ready next round.
- 3
Start the timer
Press Start (or the space bar) to begin the first segment. The countdown turns amber at 30 seconds and red at 10 seconds, with audio bells at each warning.
- 4
Track prep time per side
Tap Pro prep or Con prep to pause the speech timer and burn down that side's prep budget. Tap again to resume the round.
- 5
Move through the round
Use Next (N) to advance early or Reset (R) to restart the current segment. The progress bar shows how many segments are complete.
Frequently asked questions
What is a debate timer?
A debate timer is a countdown tool that runs each speech, cross-examination, and prep segment of a structured debate so judges, coaches, and competitors can stick to official time limits without watching a stopwatch.
How long is each speech in Lincoln-Douglas debate?
Lincoln-Douglas uses a 6 minute Affirmative Constructive, two 3 minute cross-examinations, a 7 minute Negative Constructive, a 4 minute First Affirmative Rebuttal, a 6 minute Negative Rebuttal, and a 3 minute Second Affirmative Rebuttal. Each side gets 4 minutes of total prep time.
How does Public Forum prep time work?
Public Forum gives each two-person team 3 minutes of total prep time across the round. Teams may take prep before any of their speeches, and the timer pauses speech segments while prep counts down.
Can I customize rounds for a school debate format?
Yes. Pick the Custom format and add, remove, rename, or re-order segments. Set any speech length in seconds. The timer remembers your custom format on this device the next time you visit.
Does this debate timer work offline?
Yes. After the first page load the entire timer runs in your browser with no network calls. Audio bells use the Web Audio API, so the timer works on planes, in classrooms with weak Wi-Fi, and at tournaments without internet.
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