---
title: "How do I add a countdown timer to a bundle?"
description: "Show a countdown in the bundle widget: a fixed duration per visitor, a daily midnight timer or a real end date. Layout, position and what happens at zero."
url: "https://smart-bundles.io/help/bundles/countdown-timer"
updated: "2026-11-02"
product: "SMART Bundles App & Upsells"
section: "Help center / Bundles"
---


# How do I add a countdown timer to a bundle?

Open the bundle's **Extras** tab and turn on **Countdown timer**, then choose a **Timer type**: **Fixed duration** (counts down for each visitor from their first view), **Ends at midnight** (restarts every day at the visitor's midnight) or **Ends at a date**. The timer is display only: it never ends the discount.

![Quantity breaks widget with a countdown timer line above the offers and a You save line below](https://smart-bundles.io/screens/countdown-and-savings.png)

*Extras: a countdown timer and a savings summary.*

## Set it up

1. Open the bundle in **SMART Discounts**, go to the **Extras** tab and switch on **Countdown timer**.
2. Choose the **Timer type**. **Fixed duration** shows **Hours** and **Minutes**: from 1 minute up to 10080 minutes (7 days), 15 minutes by default. **Ends at a date** shows a **Date** and a **Time** in your store's time zone, in 30-minute steps. With no future end set yet, it starts at tomorrow 11:59 PM.
3. Pick a **Layout**: **Inline** (one line, the default) or **Blocks** (a box per unit, with **Unit labels** for Days, Hours, Min and Sec).
4. Set the **Position**: **Top of the widget**, **Above the offers** (default) or **Below the offers**.
5. Set **When it ends**: **Hide the timer** (default), **Show zeros** or **Show a message**, with an **Ended message** ("This offer has ended" by default). A midnight timer never ends, so this setting is off for it.
6. Edit the **Message**, by default "Offer ends in {{timer}}", where {{timer}} is the time left, like 00:14:59. Add an optional **Subtitle**.
7. On the card's **Style** tab, set **Alignment**, **Show the timer in a box** and the colors.
8. Click **Save**.

To show the timer in the sticky bar too, tick **Show the countdown** in the **Sticky add to cart** card on the same tab.

## How each timer counts

| Timer type | When it ends |
| --- | --- |
| Fixed duration | The set time after the visitor first sees the widget. The start is saved in their browser for this bundle. |
| Ends at midnight | At the next midnight on the visitor's device. It then restarts for the new day. |
| Ends at a date | At the same moment for everyone, in your store's time zone. |

- A **Fixed duration** timer keeps counting in the same browser. A new device, another browser or cleared site data starts it again.
- Over 24 hours, the timer shows days too.
- If the end date has already passed, the editor says what shoppers see, for example "This time has passed. The timer is hidden."
- The editor preview restarts an ended **Fixed duration** timer so you can keep checking the look.

## The timer doesn't change the discount

The discount ignores the timer: shoppers still get the offer price after it reaches zero. To end the deal itself, set **Active dates** on the bundle's **Settings** tab, and use **Ends at a date** with the same end. See [Automatic or code, and schedules](https://smart-bundles.io/help/cart-discounts/automatic-or-code-and-schedules).

> **Use real deadlines** For **Fixed duration** and **Ends at midnight**, the editor shows: "Use real deadlines. Fake urgency can break Shopify's rules." A date that matches your **Active dates** is a real deadline.

The message, subtitle, ended message and unit labels can be translated with the editor's language menu. See [Translate the widget](https://smart-bundles.io/help/getting-started/translate-the-widget). More extras: [Upsells and extras](https://smart-bundles.io/features/upsells).

**Add a real deadline to your bundle** SMART Bundles App & Upsells is free on the Shopify App Store, with the countdown timer and every other extra included. [Install SMART Bundles App & Upsells on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/smart-automatic-discounts).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the discount stop when the timer reaches zero?

No. The timer is display only. Set **Active dates** on the Settings tab to end the discount.

### Why does the timer start again for some customers?

A **Fixed duration** timer is saved per browser. On another device or after clearing site data, it starts from the beginning.

### Which time zone does the timer use?

**Ends at a date** uses your store's time zone. **Ends at midnight** uses the visitor's own midnight.