Best Plug-in Timers of 2025

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Plug-in timers are a simple and effective way to control the timing of your electrical appliances. These timers are small devices that plug into your wall socket and allow you to set a specific time for your appliances to switch on and off. They are perfect for those who want to save energy by turning off their appliances when not in use, or for those who want to automate their home lighting system for added security. With a wide range of options available, ranging from simple mechanical timers to advanced digital models, there is a plug-in timer to suit every need and budget.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Plug-in Timers
Defender 24 Hour Programmable Timer Switch
The Defender Timer Switch is a reliable plug-in device that allows you to schedule your electrical appliances to turn on or off at specific times. With each segment representing 15 minutes and a total range of 24 hours, you can easily manage your devices for convenience and energy savings. It also helps deter burglars by making it appear as though someone is home, particularly useful during darker winter months. This versatile timer can control various appliances, from lamps to heaters, ensuring your home remains functional and secure.
HBN 24 Hour Programmable Timer Plug Socket
The HBN Timer Socket is designed for easy use, allowing you to set your appliances to turn on and off up to 48 times a day. Complete instructions are provided, making it straightforward to create your own schedule. With a minimum setting time of just 15 minutes, you can save time and money by ensuring your devices are only active when needed. This versatile timer can handle a load of up to 3120W, making it suitable for various appliances such as lights, heaters, and fans, enhancing convenience in your daily life.
HBN 24 Hour Plug-in Timer for Appliances
The HBN Timer Switch is designed for easy use, allowing you to programme your appliances to turn on or off up to 24 times a day. You simply pull the pins up to set your desired schedule. With a minimum setting time of just 30 minutes, you can conveniently automate your devices, ensuring they do not remain on unnecessarily. This multi-purpose timer can handle appliances and lighting up to 3120W, making it perfect for everything from TVs to Christmas lights.
HBN Programmable Mechanical Timer Plug Switch
The HBN Timer Plug Switch is designed for ease of use, allowing you to set your appliances to turn on and off up to 48 times a day. With clear instructions included, you can create a customised schedule to suit your needs. It features a load indicator and a switch knob for added convenience. The built-in child protector ensures safety in homes with little ones. This timer is not only practical but also helps save time and money by ensuring your devices are only on when needed.
STATUS 24 Hour Timer Switch S24HRSQT3
The STATUS Timer Switch is a practical 24-hour plug-in timer designed to make managing your electrical devices easier. With its simple white design, it easily blends into your home decor. You can set it to operate on a 24-hour schedule, which helps automate your lighting or appliances, providing you with convenience and energy savings. The model number S24HRSQT3 ensures that you are getting a reliable product that meets your timing needs effectively.
Desiretech 24 Hour Timer Plug Socket
The Desiretech Timer Plug is a reliable 24-hour segment timer that allows you to control your electrical appliances effortlessly. You can set them to turn on and off at specific times, making it easy to manage devices up to 3,120W. Each segment corresponds to 15 minutes, providing precise scheduling that fits your lifestyle. This timer also helps deter burglars by making your home appear occupied, especially during dark winter months or late arrivals. It's versatile enough for various appliances, from lamps to heaters, ensuring convenience and peace of mind.
Timeguard TS800N Compact Plug-in Timer Controller
The Timeguard TS800N Timer is designed for controlling appliances and filament lamps up to 400W, making it a versatile addition for your home. You can easily set the timer using simple setting pins, allowing you to schedule your devices to switch ON and OFF at specific times. With a minimum switching interval of 30 minutes that can be adjusted in 15-minute increments, you have flexibility in how you manage your energy use. You can programme up to 24 ON and OFF cycles per day, giving you extensive control over your appliances.
DEWENWILS 24 Hour Programmable Timer Socket
The DEWENWILS Timer Socket is designed for effortless home automation. Setting it up is simple; just rotate the dial to the current time and adjust the pins to schedule your devices. With the ability to create up to 96 ON/OFF programmes, you can easily customise your energy usage and reduce your electricity bills. This timer also features an AUTO mode, allowing your appliances to operate on a set schedule without manual intervention, making it perfect for daily routines.
Masterplug TMS24-MP Energy Saving Timer Plug
The Masterplug Timer Plug is designed to help you save energy while using electrical appliances. With an easy-to-use dial, you can accurately set the timer for your devices, which is particularly useful for managing heaters, lights, and seasonal decorations. The timer features blue segments that indicate the time you need, allowing for precise control. Additionally, the two switches on the side let you choose between continuous operation or timer mode, providing flexibility in how you manage your energy consumption.
HBN 24 Hour Programmable Timer Plug Socket
The HBN Timer Plug is easy to use, allowing you to simply wind the dial to your desired time. This feature lets you conveniently set a schedule for activating or deactivating your devices, helping to save energy when you're not at home. Its mechanical design is durable, making it a cost-effective choice compared to digital timers. Additionally, it automates various appliances, from lights to heaters, enhancing your home's efficiency and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are timers used for?
Timers: Timers are used to measure specific time intervals. But in electrical engineering terms, timers are also referred to as counters often. The timer is a component which is extensively used in different embedded systems. They are used to keep a record of time for different events occurring in the embedded systems.
2. What are timers called?
Timers can be categorized into two main types. The word "timer" is usually reserved for devices that counts down from a specified time interval, while devices that do the opposite, measuring elapsed time by counting upwards from zero, are called stopwatches. A simple example of the first type is an hourglass.
3. What are sensory timers?
Sensory Liquid Timers / Bubble Liquid Timers: These colourful liquid timers, or bubble timers are designed to relax and calm anyone who uses them! The bubbles float to the bottom and fill up, like a sand timer, but with liquid bubbles!
During our plug-in timer research, we found 145 plug-in timer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 150,842 customer reviews through our big data system to write the plug-in timers list. We found that most customers choose plug-in timers with an average price of £16.80.
The plug-in timers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of plug-in timers, including Defender, HBN, Status, Desiretech, Timeguard. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 959 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Jennifer Fraser is a licensed contractor specializing in sales, maintenance, and kitchen, bathroom, and home appliances, tools, and utilities. She owns a store in Leeds where you can get any home and tool appliance. Jenny has a degree in literature, but she combines her knowledge and experience with her degree to publish DIY articles on solving home appliances issues to keep up the family enterprise.