Why is the Pomodoro interval 25 minutes?

Francesco Cirillo, who developed the technique in the late 1980s, settled on 25 minutes after experimenting with longer intervals. Modern research on sustained-attention tasks confirms that focus reliably degrades after about 20–30 minutes for most adults, which is why 25 is now the standard.

What if a task takes more than one Pomodoro?

That's the normal case. Most real work takes 2–6 Pomodoros. Track Pomodoros per task as a planning metric — over time you'll learn that "writing a 1,500-word post" is a 4-Pomodoro task for you, and you'll plan accordingly. Use our free Pomodoro timer to track sessions.

Pomodoro Technique FAQ

How the 25-minute focus method works, variations, and common mistakes.

Why is the Pomodoro interval 25 minutes?
What if a task takes more than one Pomodoro?