How to Add a Countdown Timer to Notion (2026)

Table of contents

• 1. Select a countdown widget to embed in Notion
• 2. Customize the Notion countdown timer
• 3. Copy the embed code of the Notion countdown clock
• 4. Open the Notion page where you want to add the countdown timer
• 5. Add countdown timer to Notion
• 6. Resize or move the countdown widget
• How to create a countdown in Notion?
• 1. Open the Notion database
• 2. Set up Notion countdown property
• 3. Add Notion countdown formula
• 4. Set up countdown timer in Notion
• Frequently asked questions
• What are the simplest ways to add a countdown in Notion?
• Do I need a third-party widget, or can I build one with formulas?
• Why is my countdown showing the wrong time or negative numbers?

Let’s discuss it in detail.

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1. Select a countdown widget to embed in Notion

We will embed Indify’s countdown widget for demonstration purposes.

You need to create a free account to use it. Once you’re in, you will be prompted to set a date and time for the countdown clock. Once it’s set, you will be able to see a basic countdown timer.

2. Customize the Notion countdown timer

Specify the elements of the timer that you want to display on Notion. You can show or hide Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minutes, or Seconds data.

Furthermore, you have the option to change the text and background color. Make sure you use colors that blend well with the design of the Notion page where you plan to embed the widget.

Here’s the countdown widget we will add to our page:

3. Copy the embed code of the Notion countdown clock

Once you are satisfied by the look and feel of your countdown timer, copy its embed code. This code carries all the details of the countdown widget - text and background colors, start and end times, etc.

4. Open the Notion page where you want to add the countdown timer

Or you can just create a new Notion page like we did here.

5. Add countdown timer to Notion

Paste the embed code of the preferred countdown widget into a Notion page. Notion will ask if you want to embed, mention, bookmark, or link to the widget.

Select the ‘Embed’ option to add the countdown to Notion.

6. Resize or move the countdown widget

Once you embed the Notion countdown clock, you can treat it like any other Notion block and move it around the page.

Since we do not have any other page elements, we do not need to move the clock in our example, so we will only resize it.

To resize, click and drag the edge-lines that appear when hovering over the block. Release when satisfied with the new size.

Countdown set. Now publish it. Super turns your Notion page into a fast site with custom domains and simple SEO.

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How to create a countdown in Notion?

While countdown timers build urgency in sales landing pages, you may prefer subtler options for regular use.

For tracking multiple deadlines, individual countdown widgets are impractical. An automated process is necessary.

The good news is that it’s possible to create your own countdown timer using the formula property of Notion database. Essentially, you list all your tasks, and for each task, you add a row item that measures the time left until the due date arrives.

Here’s how to make your own countdown timer in Notion:

1. Open the Notion database

Or create a new database. Either way, ensure that it has at least one column with the ‘Date’ property type.

We will use the following assignment deadline tracker for reference. The ‘Due date of submission’ is the column with the ‘Date’ property type.

2. Set up Notion countdown property

We will set up the countdown in a database column with the ‘Formula’ property type.

To do that, create a new column by clicking on the ‘+’ icon next to the rightmost column of the database.

This will insert a new column. Set its property type to ‘Formula’.

Name the new column. We’ll refer to it as ‘Days left’ in our example.

Now that the new column with the ‘Formula’ property type is set, let’s convert it into a Notion countdown to date in the next step.

3. Add Notion countdown formula

Access the formula view by clicking on the property name and then on the ‘Edit’ option.

In the view, enter the below formula.

dateBetween(Due Date of Submission,now(),"days")

Breakdown of the Formula

1. dateBetween(start, end, unit):
• This is a Notion function that calculates the difference between two dates.
• start: The starting date.
• end: The ending date.
• unit: The unit of time you want the difference in, such as "days", "weeks", "months", etc.
2. Due Date of Submission:
• This represents the column in the Notion database that holds the submission due dates. It’s the starting point for the date difference calculation.
3. now():
• This function returns the current date and time.
• In the formula, it’s used as the ending date for the calculation.
4. "days":
• This specifies that you want the difference in days.

What It Does

• The formula calculates how many days are left until the "Due Date of Submission" relative to today’s date.
• If the due date is in the future, the result will be a positive number indicating how many days are left.
• If the due date is today, it will return 0.
• If the due date is in the past, the result will be a negative number, indicating how many days have passed since the due date.

Example

• If today is August 25, and the "Due Date of Submission" is August 30, the formula will return 5.
• If the "Due Date of Submission" was August 20, the formula would return -5.

This formula helps in tracking deadlines by showing how many days are left or how overdue a submission is.

4. Set up countdown timer in Notion

By adding the Notion formula for creating a countdown timer, you can easily create a countdown in Notion.

Frequently asked questions

What are the simplest ways to add a countdown in Notion?

You have two options: embed a third-party countdown widget or use a database formula that calculates time left until a date. Widgets are faster to set up, while formulas are flexible for task tracking.

Do I need a third-party widget, or can I build one with formulas?

You can do both. Widgets give you a visual timer with days, hours, and minutes, while a formula like dateBetween(prop("Due"), now(), "days") shows time remaining inside a database.

Why is my countdown showing the wrong time or negative numbers?

That usually comes from time zone mismatches or a past deadline. Set the exact date and time, confirm the widget’s time zone, and add a simple conditional in formulas to show “Today” or “Overdue” instead of negatives.

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