Free Split-Flap
Countdown Timer Widget
Airport departures board aesthetic. Each digit clicks through intermediate values before landing on the new number. Nostalgic, mechanical, and completely unforgettable.
Widget Builder
Configure & Embed
Customise your Split-Flap countdown then copy the embed code.
Widget Settings
About This Style
About the Split-Flap Style
The Split-Flap countdown timer draws its inspiration from the Solari di Udine mechanical departure boards that once graced every major airport and railway terminus in the world. First installed in Rome's Termini station in 1955, the Solari board became one of the most iconic pieces of mid-century public design — the cascading click of thousands of tiles cycling through the alphabet and numerals was the sound of travel, of imminent departure, of time-sensitive information delivered with mechanical elegance.
Where the Flip style animates each unit as a whole, the Split-Flap style takes the simulation further: every individual digit position in every unit cycles independently through intermediate values before settling on the correct character. This is how real Solari boards work — each tile driven by its own independent motor that spins the character drum until the correct character aligns with the viewing window. The cascade effect that results, where digits in different positions finish at slightly different times, is the defining visual signature of split-flap displays and the source of their peculiar, hypnotic beauty.
The default colour palette is warm and aged: dark brown near-black tiles with cream-toned digits, as if the board has been running in a warm, amber-lit terminal hall for decades. This sepia warmth is deliberately evocative of the analogue era — a counterpoint to the cold blue-white of modern LED signage. The tile dimensions and proportions are also informed by real Solari board measurements, giving the widget an authenticity that purely stylistic interpretations lack.
In terms of appropriate use cases, the Split-Flap countdown is the obvious choice for travel brands and airline websites, event venues and concert promoters, festival countdown pages, restaurant reservation sites, hotel and hospitality brands, escape room businesses, retro-themed retail sites, and any experience brand that wants to evoke a sense of journey and anticipation. The animated board creates an immediate emotional register — this is a countdown to something significant, something worth travelling for.
Despite the visual complexity of the per-digit animation, the Split-Flap widget is well-optimised. The animation uses CSS transitions triggered by JavaScript character updates, with requestAnimationFrame scheduling to avoid dropped frames. It runs smoothly on mobile devices and has zero impact on your page's main thread performance.
Integration
How to Embed the Split-Flap Countdown
- Configure your target date, timezone, title, and colour palette using the form above.
- Click Copy Code to copy your personalised embed snippet.
- Open your website editor and locate a Custom HTML or Code embed block.
- Paste the snippet where you want the split-flap board to appear on your page.
- Save and publish — the per-digit cycling animation will be live immediately.
Your embed code will look like this:
<div data-wf-widget="countdown-split-flap"
data-wf-target="2026-12-25T00:00:00Z"
data-wf-title="Christmas Countdown"
data-wf-size="inline"></div>
<script src="https://widget-forge.com/embed.js" async></script>Platforms
Platform Guides
WordPress
Add a Custom HTML block and paste your embed code. The Split-Flap countdown is especially effective on travel blogs, restaurant websites, and event promoter pages built in WordPress, where the nostalgic board aesthetic adds genuine character to launch announcements.
Squarespace
Insert a Code block in HTML mode and paste your snippet. The Split-Flap board is a striking choice for Squarespace hospitality and event venue templates — it creates an immediate sense of occasion that generic stock photography cannot match.
Wix
Add an HTML iFrame element and paste your code, sized to around 150px tall. On Wix event and venue pages the Split-Flap countdown transforms a mundane "opens in X days" message into a memorable, interactive display that encourages return visits.
Webflow
Drop an Embed component onto your canvas and paste your code. In Webflow the Split-Flap countdown pairs beautifully with vintage-inspired or editorial design systems. Use it on CMS-driven event collection pages for a dynamic, data-informed countdown to each event.
Plain HTML / CSS Sites
Paste the embed code directly into your HTML file. The Split-Flap widget is a popular choice for hand-crafted experience-brand sites and restaurant landing pages where every design element is chosen deliberately. The sepia palette integrates naturally with warm, artisan aesthetics.
Support
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a split-flap display?
A split-flap display (also known as a Solari board after its Italian manufacturer) is a mechanical sign system used in airports, train stations, and public spaces from the 1960s through to the 2000s. It displayed information on rows of hinged tiles that would flip through characters to reveal new letters and numbers — the characteristic click-and-cascade sound became synonymous with departure boards worldwide.
How fast does the animation cycle?
Each tile cycles through intermediate characters at roughly 60–80ms per step, creating a brief cascade effect that lasts around half a second from start to final value. The speed is calibrated to feel authentic to real mechanical boards — fast enough to feel mechanical and efficient, slow enough for the cycling motion to be clearly visible and satisfying.
Can I use a different colour scheme?
Yes. The default palette is warm sepia — dark tiles with cream digits. You can override the tile background, digit colour, and widget background using the colour scheme picker to create a modern high-contrast version or align with a specific brand palette while retaining the per-digit mechanical animation.
Is it the same as the Flip style?
They are related but distinct. The Flip style animates at the unit level — each block flips when the number changes. The Split-Flap style animates at the individual character level — every digit position cycles independently through intermediate values before settling on the new character. The Split-Flap effect is more complex and more authentic to the original mechanical Solari board aesthetic.
What events is this style best for?
The Split-Flap style is ideal for travel industry sites, event venues, festival countdown pages, restaurant reservation launches, hotel and hospitality brands, escape room businesses, retro-themed retail sites, and experience brands. Any context that wants to evoke a sense of journey, arrival, or vintage mechanical charm will benefit from the nostalgic authenticity of the split-flap animation.
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