# Set request timeouts

Set a per-attempt limit and an overall limit when a request must not wait indefinitely.

## When to use request timeouts

Use `timeout` to cap the time Ky spends waiting for a response on each attempt. Set `totalTimeout` when retries and their delays must also fit within one overall time budget. Ky is an HTTP client based on the Fetch API, so make the request with [`ky`](https://bench-ky-6l.atloria.app/p/bench-ky-6l-QSDF7DxJ6h/developer/ky#default) and pass these as request options.

## Set both limits on a request

Pass both limits in the request options. When the response arrives and its body is read within the limits, `.json()` resolves with the parsed value and the sample logs it.

```ts
import ky from 'ky';

async function loadReports(): Promise<void> {
	const reports = await ky.get('https://api.example.com/reports', {
		timeout: 5_000,
		totalTimeout: 30_000,
	}).json();

	console.log(reports);
}

void loadReports();
```

## Timeout options

| Option | Type | Default | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `timeout` | `number \| false` | `10000` | Limits each attempt while waiting for a response. Ky's shortcut body methods, such as `.json()`, also use it as a separate limit for reading the response body. `false` disables the per-attempt limit. |
| `totalTimeout` | `number \| false` | `false` | Limits the whole operation, including retries and retry delays. If the limit is exceeded, Ky throws a [`TimeoutError`](https://bench-ky-6l.atloria.app/p/bench-ky-6l-QSDF7DxJ6h/developer/ky#timeouterror). `false` or omitting the option disables this overall limit. |
| `retry.retryOnTimeout` | `boolean` | `false` | Enables retries when a timeout happens before Ky receives a response. |

Both numeric timeout values must not exceed `2147483647` milliseconds. `beforeError` hooks run after Ky produces an error and are not bounded by `totalTimeout`.

## Related

- [Retry failed requests](https://bench-ky-6l.atloria.app/p/bench-ky-6l-QSDF7DxJ6h/developer/retry-failed-requests) explains retry rules and retry timing.
- [Ky errors and validation](https://bench-ky-6l.atloria.app/p/bench-ky-6l-QSDF7DxJ6h/developer/ky-errors-and-validation) covers Ky's error types and handling patterns.