The 8 Best Silent Wall Clocks
Updated by · How we research
Eight non-ticking wall clocks compared by movement type, readability, build and warranty. The Seiko QXA520WLH leads for its quiet sweep hand and metal case. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A wall clock ticks because its second hand jumps once a second. A sweep movement turns the hand in one smooth motion, so there is nothing to hear, and that word is the spec to look for: "non-ticking" on a box is a claim, not a description. Silent clocks keep the same quartz time as noisy ones and suit bedrooms.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Seiko QXA520WLH now leads, since Seiko is the one maker here with a long, steady record of quiet sweep movements, a metal case and a real warranty. The bigger Seiko Office Classic joins it for rooms where the clock has to read from across the space, and the Bernhard Products 01176 covers tight budgets.
None of the old picks came back. The Seiko Round and Umbra Modern have been discontinued, while the rest were small sellers whose clocks no longer turn up. Infinity Instruments and Jomparis return with current models. We passed on the Jones Clocks Sprite, a handsome design that its maker says ticks faintly, and on a few cheap clocks with too many reports of noise or early failure.
The deciding question for every clock was whether its maker says the second hand sweeps, and then how often owners found it slowing or stopping within months. If you want a clock that sets itself, see our atomic clocks; for lit numbers you can read in the dark, see our digital wall clocks.
Earlier notes
August 10, 2020, by Karen Bennett:
In today’s update we added in the Seiko Round, which gives the list a classically styled design that’s from one of the best-known names in timepieces. It’s got an elegant woodgrain frame with a contrasting warm off-white face. Providing more contrast are large, dark Roman numerals and hands. It’s topped off by a gold-colored silent second hand and a ring around the periphery of the numbers. Smaller Arabic numerals mark the minutes in increments of five. Unlike many others, it’s got accurate quartz movement for highly reliable performance, and the large characters make it easy to read from a distance. To make room for this new addition to the top spot, we moved the Plumeet 13 Inch into the number two spot, as it’s hard to beat when it comes to quality and ease of use. Like the Seiko, it features high-quality quartz movement, and this one’s 3-dimensional numbers appear to pop out from its face and make it readable from any angle in the room. The raised characters also make for interesting shadows when the light shines on the face. You can choose it with a face of either deep black or powder blue. The bright white Arabic numerals also make it a breeze to read, and its protective glass cover is easy to wipe clean. While it’s not a clock made for the shower, per se, it does feature a water-resistant build.
For a bright, kid-friendly clock that’s sure to add some enjoyment to the process or learning to tell the time, look to the colorful SkyNature Wooden, which features four animal friends situated on and below a leafy tree. It’s got large black numbers and hands that match, in contrast to the surrounding blue sky and green grass. If you like the bright colors, but don’t want a model designed for children, look to the Eruner Ocean Stripe, which is covered in blue, yellow, green, and white horizontal stripes that make it great for any beach cottage or vintage-style decor in your home. It sports a playful romantic font and is made from medium-density fiberboard.
September 12, 2019, by Karen Bennett:
While you likely want a reliable and decorative clock adorning the wall of your office, kitchen, den, or bedroom, you might not wish to be bothered by the loud ticking sounds many of them make. Fortunately, there are plenty wall clocks that come in attractive, traditional designs that feature smoothly sweeping second hands for silent operation. (Keep in mind there are also plenty of digital wall clocks that run silently, and many of those also conveniently display the day, date, and outside temperatures.) Here we focus on some analog models in a range of designs, colors, sizes, and prices, so you’re sure to find the right one to match your setting and tastes.
Joining our selection in this update is the Plumeet 13 Inch, which comes in either a black or a powder blue dial face with white 3D numbers that make it easy to read in any size room from any angle. It comes with mounting hooks and features a wide slot for easy hanging. And you can buy it with confidence, thanks to its generous one-year warranty.
Also coming on board is the Umbra Modern, which comes in your choice of shiny, metallic finishes, including copper, stainless steel, brass, and black. Each features ribbons of metal that are gently bent for a modern, aesthetically pleasing design. Most also are made with highly contrasting hands, making the time easy to read from across a room. They’re created by award-winning designer Michelle Ivankovic, who attended the Ontario College of Art & Design.
Epy Huts Modern joins the list as a clean, simple choice available in an array of bold colors like teal, blue, and rose, as well as basic black and white. And it’s not just a pretty face, as it’s got large, easy-to-read numbers and prominent hands, so you can tell the time with just a quick glance from anywhere in your room.
Leaving the list today are the Beautiful Things Modern and the DecoMates House Bird, due to availability issues. In addition, the UrbanWare Quartz makes its departure, in the wake of reports regarding its durability and longevity.
Special Honors
Newgate Clocks Newgate is a British clock maker known for bold, retro designs. Its first non-ticking wall clock, the Brixton, joined the range more than 20 years ago and still sells with a sweep movement, a curved metal case and a domed glass lens. The company also makes silent mantel and alarm clocks. newgateworld.com
Sweep Or Step: Where The Tick Comes From
In a standard one, a tiny motor pushes the second hand forward once a second, and each push makes the click you hear at night.
Almost every battery wall clock runs on a quartz movement. In a standard one, a tiny motor pushes the second hand forward once a second, and each push makes the click you hear at night. A sweep movement drives the hand in a continuous glide instead, so there is no step and no tick, as clock dealer The Clock Depot explains. British maker Newgate describes its silent models the same way: the hands move in constant motion without the tick step.
That makes the word "sweep" the one to look for. "Silent" and "non-ticking" show up on almost every listing, including clocks whose makers never say how the movement works. The Seiko, Bernhard, Foxtop, mooas and Infinity Instruments clocks on this list name a sweep movement; the Kesin and Jomparis only say non-ticking. A clock with no second hand at all, like the mooas Flatwood, has the least to hear.
Silent doesn't mean perfectly quiet. A sweep motor can give off a faint hum in a still room, and a clock hanging loosely on a thin wall can buzz. Sweep clocks also keep the same quartz time as ticking ones, so a silent clock is not more accurate.
Size, Numbers And Glare
Pick the size by where you'll sit. Clock seller Premier Clocks suggests 10 to 20 inches for compact rooms, with smaller clocks for kitchens, entryways and bedrooms. In practice, a 10- to 12-inch dial is enough for a bedroom or kitchen, and 14 to 16 inches reads better across a living room or office.
Contrast matters more than style. Dark numbers on a light face, or the reverse, and hands that stand out from the dial are easiest to read at a glance. Thin script numerals, tone-on-tone faces and minimalist dials with no numbers look good but take longer to read, especially in low light.
Glass covers protect the face but reflect lamps and windows. Owners of clocks with clear rings or domed lenses mention glare under bright lights. If the clock will face a window, a flat lens or an open face cuts reflections, at the cost of dust on the dial.
Batteries, Hanging And Safety
Every clock here runs on a single AA. Use the type the maker asks for: Foxtop recommends alkaline and claims up to two years from one cell, while Kesin asks for a standard carbon-zinc battery. When a clock starts losing time, try a fresh battery before deciding it has failed. Cheap movements are the usual weak point, so check a new clock against your phone for the first week or two while it can still be returned.
Hang light plastic clocks on a nail or small hook. A heavier metal or wood clock, such as the 16-inch Seiko, should go on a screw in a stud or a wall anchor rated for its weight, and well out of a child's reach.
AA clocks are low risk, but not risk-free. In 2016 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled Z Gallerie's Golda wall clocks because faulty battery springs could overheat the AA cell (CPSC). In 2025 it recalled a digital wall clock whose remote held a coin battery a child could reach (CPSC). We found no recalls for any brand on this list.
How we researched this
We compared 18 current silent and non-ticking wall clocks, read what each maker says about its movement, battery and warranty, studied long-run owner reports of clocks that slowed, stopped or ticked anyway, read clock dealers' explanations of sweep movements, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall records for every brand. We found no independent lab tests of these clocks.
Frequently asked questions
Do silent wall clocks keep better time?
No. Silent and ticking clocks use the same kind of quartz timekeeping. A good one drifts by a few seconds a month. Cheap ones can drift more, and a clock that slows badly often just needs a fresh battery.
Why does my silent clock still make noise?
Either the movement steps rather than sweeps, despite the label, or a sweep motor's faint hum is carrying through a thin wall. Hang the clock flat and snug against the wall, or move it to an inside wall.
What does non-ticking mean on a clock?
It usually means a sweep second hand that glides instead of jumping. It's a claim, though, not a technical term, so look for a maker that names a sweep movement, or pick a clock with no second hand.
How long does a wall clock battery last?
Usually many months to a couple of years on one AA. Foxtop claims up to two years with an alkaline cell. Replace it when the second hand stalls or the clock starts losing time.
What size silent wall clock should I get for a bedroom?
A 10- to 12-inch clock is enough for most bedrooms and kitchens. Go to 14 or 16 inches for a living room or an office where you'll read it from across the room.
