# Countdown Timer Shortcode

> Adds a [countdown] shortcode that shows a live days, hours, minutes and seconds countdown to a date, with a message once the time is up.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Content](https://wpide.com/library/category/content/)
- Tags: shortcode, countdown, events
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/countdown-timer-shortcode/

## Code

```php
add_shortcode( 'countdown', function ( $atts ) {
    $atts = shortcode_atts( array( 'to' => '', 'expired' => 'Time is up!' ), $atts, 'countdown' );
    $date = date_create( $atts['to'], wp_timezone() );

    if ( ! $date ) {
        return '';
    }

    $id = wp_unique_id( 'wpide-countdown-' );

    $html  = '<span id="' . esc_attr( $id ) . '" class="wpide-countdown" data-end="' . esc_attr( $date->getTimestamp() * 1000 ) . '" data-expired="' . esc_attr( $atts['expired'] ) . '"></span>';
    $html .= '<script>(function(){var el=document.getElementById(' . wp_json_encode( $id ) . ');if(!el){return;}var end=parseInt(el.getAttribute("data-end"),10);function pad(n){return n<10?"0"+n:n;}function tick(){var left=end-Date.now();if(left<=0){el.textContent=el.getAttribute("data-expired");return;}var s=Math.floor(left/1000),d=Math.floor(s/86400),h=Math.floor(s%86400/3600),m=Math.floor(s%3600/60);el.textContent=d+"d "+pad(h)+"h "+pad(m)+"m "+pad(s%60)+"s";setTimeout(tick,1000);}tick();})();</script>';

    return $html;
} );
```

## Notes

Example: [countdown to="2026-12-31 23:59" expired="The sale has ended."]. The date uses the site time zone.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Countdown Timer Shortcode" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/