diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bbad8dc..601f11a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,6 +76,18 @@ watchr "ps aux"
 # Refresh every 2 seconds
 watchr -r 2 "docker ps"
 
+# Refresh every 500 milliseconds
+watchr -r 500ms "date"
+
+# Refresh every 1.5 seconds
+watchr -r 1.5s "kubectl get pods"
+
+# Refresh every 5 minutes
+watchr -r 5m "df -h"
+
+# Refresh every hour
+watchr -r 1h "curl -s https://api.example.com/status"
+
 # Watch file changes
 watchr -r 5 "find . -name '*.go' -mmin -1"
 ```
@@ -90,7 +102,7 @@ Options:
   -v, --version                    Show version
   -c, --config string              Load config from specified path
   -C, --show-config                Show loaded configuration and exit
-  -r, --refresh int                Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 = disabled)
+  -r, --refresh string             Auto-refresh interval (e.g., 1, 1.5, 500ms, 2s, 5m, 1h; default unit: seconds, 0 = disabled)
   -p, --prompt string              Prompt string (default "watchr> ")
   -s, --shell string               Shell to use for executing commands (default "sh")
   -n, --no-line-numbers            Disable line numbers
@@ -124,7 +136,7 @@ preview-position: right
 line-numbers: true
 line-width: 4
 prompt: "> "
-refresh: 0
+refresh: 0           # disabled; or use: 2, 1.5, "500ms", "2s", "5m", "1h"
 interactive: false
 ```
 
@@ -136,7 +148,7 @@ preview-position = "right"
 line-numbers = true
 line-width = 4
 prompt = "> "
-refresh = 0
+refresh = 0          # disabled; or use: 2, 1.5, "500ms", "2s", "5m", "1h"
 interactive = false
 ```
 
@@ -154,6 +166,10 @@ interactive = false
 }
 ```
 
+The `refresh` option accepts:
+- Numbers: `2` or `1.5` (interpreted as seconds)
+- Explicit units: `"500ms"`, `"2s"`, `"5m"`, `"1h"`
+
 ### Priority Order
 
 Configuration values are applied in this order (later sources override earlier ones):
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 10ffe40..08e9257 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
 	"runtime"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ func setDefaults() {
 	viper.SetDefault(KeyLineNumbers, true)
 	viper.SetDefault(KeyLineWidth, 6)
 	viper.SetDefault(KeyPrompt, "watchr> ")
-	viper.SetDefault(KeyRefresh, 0)
+	viper.SetDefault(KeyRefresh, "0")
 	viper.SetDefault(KeyInteractive, false)
 }
 
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ func PrintConfig() {
 	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %v\n", KeyLineNumbers+":", GetBool(KeyLineNumbers))
 	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %d\n", KeyLineWidth+":", GetInt(KeyLineWidth))
 	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %q\n", KeyPrompt+":", GetString(KeyPrompt))
-	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %d\n", KeyRefresh+":", GetInt(KeyRefresh))
+	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %s\n", KeyRefresh+":", GetString(KeyRefresh))
 	fmt.Printf("  %-20s %v\n", KeyInteractive+":", GetBool(KeyInteractive))
 }
 
@@ -149,3 +152,57 @@ func getConfigDir() string {
 		return ""
 	}
 }
+
+// durationRegex matches duration strings like "1", "1.5", "500ms", "1s", "1.5s", "5m", "1h"
+var durationRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^(\d+(?:\.\d+)?)(ms|s|m|h)?$`)
+
+// ParseDuration parses a duration string into a time.Duration.
+// Supported formats:
+//   - "1", "1.5" - interpreted as seconds (default unit)
+//   - "1s", "1.5s" - explicit seconds
+//   - "500ms", "1500ms" - explicit milliseconds
+//   - "5m", "1.5m" - explicit minutes
+//   - "1h", "0.5h" - explicit hours
+//
+// Returns 0 if the input is empty or "0".
+func ParseDuration(s string) (time.Duration, error) {
+	if s == "" || s == "0" {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	matches := durationRegex.FindStringSubmatch(s)
+	if matches == nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid duration format: %q (expected number, Xms, Xs, Xm, or Xh)", s)
+	}
+
+	value, err := strconv.ParseFloat(matches[1], 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid duration value: %q", matches[1])
+	}
+
+	unit := matches[2]
+	switch unit {
+	case "ms":
+		return time.Duration(value * float64(time.Millisecond)), nil
+	case "s", "":
+		// Default to seconds
+		return time.Duration(value * float64(time.Second)), nil
+	case "m":
+		return time.Duration(value * float64(time.Minute)), nil
+	case "h":
+		return time.Duration(value * float64(time.Hour)), nil
+	default:
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid duration unit: %q", unit)
+	}
+}
+
+// GetDuration returns a duration config value by parsing the string value.
+// Returns 0 if parsing fails or value is empty.
+func GetDuration(key string) time.Duration {
+	s := viper.GetString(key)
+	d, err := ParseDuration(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return d
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 6f1cf09..2bc72cb 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
@@ -70,8 +71,8 @@ func TestInit(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected default prompt 'watchr> ', got %q", got)
 	}
 
-	if got := viper.GetInt(KeyRefresh); got != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("expected default refresh 0, got %d", got)
+	if got := viper.GetString(KeyRefresh); got != "0" {
+		t.Errorf("expected default refresh '0', got %q", got)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ func TestBindFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	flags.String("preview-position", "bottom", "")
 	flags.Int("line-width", 6, "")
 	flags.String("prompt", "watchr> ", "")
-	flags.Int("refresh", 0, "")
+	flags.String("refresh", "0", "")
 	flags.Bool("no-line-numbers", false, "")
 
 	// Parse with custom values
@@ -204,8 +205,8 @@ refresh: 5
 		t.Errorf("expected prompt 'test> ' from config file, got %q", got)
 	}
 
-	if got := GetInt(KeyRefresh); got != 5 {
-		t.Errorf("expected refresh 5 from config file, got %d", got)
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 5*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 5s from config file, got %v", got)
 	}
 
 	// ConfigFileUsed should return the path
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ preview-size: "60%"
 	flags.String("preview-position", "bottom", "")
 	flags.Int("line-width", 6, "")
 	flags.String("prompt", "watchr> ", "")
-	flags.Int("refresh", 0, "")
+	flags.String("refresh", "0", "")
 	flags.Bool("no-line-numbers", false, "")
 
 	// Override shell via flag
@@ -322,8 +323,8 @@ refresh: 10
 		t.Errorf("expected prompt 'custom> ', got %q", got)
 	}
 
-	if got := GetInt(KeyRefresh); got != 10 {
-		t.Errorf("expected refresh 10, got %d", got)
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 10*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 10s, got %v", got)
 	}
 
 	// ConfigFileUsed should return the specified path
@@ -434,3 +435,178 @@ func TestInitWithFileDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected default line-width 6, got %d", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestParseDuration(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input    string
+		expected time.Duration
+		wantErr  bool
+	}{
+		// Empty and zero values
+		{"", 0, false},
+		{"0", 0, false},
+
+		// Plain numbers (default to seconds)
+		{"1", 1 * time.Second, false},
+		{"5", 5 * time.Second, false},
+		{"60", 60 * time.Second, false},
+
+		// Decimal seconds
+		{"0.5", 500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"1.5", 1500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"2.25", 2250 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"0.1", 100 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"0.001", 1 * time.Millisecond, false},
+
+		// Explicit seconds suffix
+		{"1s", 1 * time.Second, false},
+		{"5s", 5 * time.Second, false},
+		{"0.5s", 500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"1.5s", 1500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+
+		// Milliseconds suffix
+		{"100ms", 100 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"500ms", 500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"1000ms", 1000 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"1500ms", 1500 * time.Millisecond, false},
+		{"50.5ms", 50500 * time.Microsecond, false},
+
+		// Minutes suffix
+		{"1m", 1 * time.Minute, false},
+		{"5m", 5 * time.Minute, false},
+		{"0.5m", 30 * time.Second, false},
+		{"1.5m", 90 * time.Second, false},
+
+		// Hours suffix
+		{"1h", 1 * time.Hour, false},
+		{"2h", 2 * time.Hour, false},
+		{"0.5h", 30 * time.Minute, false},
+		{"1.5h", 90 * time.Minute, false},
+
+		// Invalid formats
+		{"abc", 0, true},
+		{"1d", 0, true},  // days not supported
+		{"1w", 0, true},  // weeks not supported
+		{"-1", 0, true},  // negative not supported
+		{"-1s", 0, true}, // negative not supported
+		{"1.2.3", 0, true},
+		{"s", 0, true},
+		{"ms", 0, true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := ParseDuration(tt.input)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Errorf("ParseDuration(%q) expected error, got nil", tt.input)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("ParseDuration(%q) unexpected error: %v", tt.input, err)
+				return
+			}
+			if got != tt.expected {
+				t.Errorf("ParseDuration(%q) = %v, want %v", tt.input, got, tt.expected)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGetDuration(t *testing.T) {
+	_, cleanup := isolateConfig(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	Init()
+
+	// Test default value
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected default refresh 0, got %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// Test with seconds value
+	viper.Set(KeyRefresh, "5")
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 5*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 5s, got %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// Test with decimal value
+	viper.Set(KeyRefresh, "0.5")
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 500*time.Millisecond {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 500ms, got %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// Test with explicit seconds suffix
+	viper.Set(KeyRefresh, "2s")
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 2*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 2s, got %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// Test with milliseconds
+	viper.Set(KeyRefresh, "250ms")
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 250*time.Millisecond {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 250ms, got %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// Test with invalid value (should return 0)
+	viper.Set(KeyRefresh, "invalid")
+	if got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh 0 for invalid value, got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRefreshDurationFromConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir, cleanup := isolateConfig(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		yaml     string
+		expected time.Duration
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "integer seconds",
+			yaml:     "refresh: 5\n",
+			expected: 5 * time.Second,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "decimal seconds",
+			yaml:     "refresh: 0.5\n",
+			expected: 500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "string with s suffix",
+			yaml:     "refresh: \"2s\"\n",
+			expected: 2 * time.Second,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "string with ms suffix",
+			yaml:     "refresh: \"500ms\"\n",
+			expected: 500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "string decimal with s suffix",
+			yaml:     "refresh: \"1.5s\"\n",
+			expected: 1500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			resetViper()
+
+			configPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "watchr.yaml")
+			if err := os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte(tt.yaml), 0644); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to write config file: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			Init()
+
+			got := GetDuration(KeyRefresh)
+			if got != tt.expected {
+				t.Errorf("GetDuration(KeyRefresh) = %v, want %v", got, tt.expected)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/ui.go b/internal/ui/ui.go
index bb62ea4..16a7aa3 100644
--- a/internal/ui/ui.go
+++ b/internal/ui/ui.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	ShowLineNums         bool
 	LineNumWidth         int
 	Prompt               string
-	RefreshSeconds       int
+	RefreshInterval      time.Duration
 	Interactive          bool
 }
 
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ func (m *model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			}
 
 			// If auto-refresh is enabled, schedule the next run
-			if m.config.RefreshSeconds > 0 {
+			if m.config.RefreshInterval > 0 {
 				return m, m.tickCmd()
 			}
 			return m, nil
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ func (m *model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, m.streamTickCmd()
 
 	case tickMsg:
-		if m.config.RefreshSeconds > 0 && !m.streaming {
+		if m.config.RefreshInterval > 0 && !m.streaming {
 			// Restart streaming for refresh
 			cmd := m.startStreaming()
 			return m, tea.Batch(cmd, m.spinnerTickCmd())
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (m *model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 }
 
 func (m model) tickCmd() tea.Cmd {
-	return tea.Tick(time.Duration(m.config.RefreshSeconds)*time.Second, func(t time.Time) tea.Msg {
+	return tea.Tick(m.config.RefreshInterval, func(t time.Time) tea.Msg {
 		return tickMsg(t)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/ui/ui_test.go b/internal/ui/ui_test.go
index 9309996..8180c04 100644
--- a/internal/ui/ui_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/ui_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package ui
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/chenasraf/watchr/internal/runner"
 )
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		ShowLineNums:         true,
 		LineNumWidth:         6,
 		Prompt:               "watchr> ",
-		RefreshSeconds:       5,
+		RefreshInterval:      5 * time.Second,
 	}
 
 	if cfg.Command != "echo test" {
@@ -51,8 +52,8 @@ func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected prompt 'watchr> ', got %q", cfg.Prompt)
 	}
 
-	if cfg.RefreshSeconds != 5 {
-		t.Errorf("expected refresh seconds 5, got %d", cfg.RefreshSeconds)
+	if cfg.RefreshInterval != 5*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("expected refresh interval 5s, got %v", cfg.RefreshInterval)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 91f488a..0e2e973 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.IntP("line-width", "w", 6, "Line number width")
 	flag.StringP("prompt", "p", "watchr> ", "Prompt string")
 	flag.StringP("shell", "s", "sh", "Shell to use for executing commands")
-	flag.IntP("refresh", "r", 0, "Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 = disabled)")
+	flag.StringP("refresh", "r", "0", "Auto-refresh interval (e.g., 1, 1.5, 500ms, 2s, 5m, 1h; default unit: seconds, 0 = disabled)")
 	flag.BoolP("interactive", "i", false, "Run shell in interactive mode (sources ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, etc.)")
 
 	printUsage := func(w *os.File) {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func main() {
 	shell := config.GetString(config.KeyShell)
 	lineNumWidth := config.GetInt(config.KeyLineWidth)
 	prompt := config.GetString(config.KeyPrompt)
-	refreshSeconds := config.GetInt(config.KeyRefresh)
+	refreshInterval := config.GetDuration(config.KeyRefresh)
 	showLineNums := config.ShowLineNumbers()
 	interactive := config.GetBool(config.KeyInteractive)
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func main() {
 		ShowLineNums:         showLineNums,
 		LineNumWidth:         lineNumWidth,
 		Prompt:               prompt,
-		RefreshSeconds:       refreshSeconds,
+		RefreshInterval:      refreshInterval,
 		Interactive:          interactive,
 	}