1 Minute Timer
Free shareable timer - copy the link and anyone can start counting down instantly.
Why a 1 minute timer?
A minute is the shortest span that still feels like a block of time rather than a moment. People consistently underestimate it - which is exactly why timing it changes behaviour. Ask a room to hold a wall sit "for about a minute" and most stop at forty seconds.
In teaching it is the length of the "one-minute paper", a long-standing classroom assessment technique where students spend exactly sixty seconds writing down the main thing they learned and the question they still have. The constraint is the point: it forces a summary instead of an essay.
What people use a 1 minute timer for
- Wall sits and isometric holds. A minute is the classic benchmark for a wall sit or dead hang - long enough that the last fifteen seconds are the whole exercise.
- One-minute papers. Sixty seconds of writing at the end of a lesson surfaces what actually landed, far faster than a quiz.
- Elevator pitches. The standard rehearsal length for a pitch or introduction, and the fastest way to find out your version runs ninety seconds.
- Per-person speaking turns. Gives every person in a discussion circle the same airtime without anyone having to police it.
- Rest between heavy sets. A minute is the usual recovery window for moderate strength work before the next set.
Other preset timer lengths
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a minute feel shorter when I am timing it?
Because attention to the passage of time is what makes it feel long. When you are occupied - talking, holding a position, writing - your estimate compresses, which is why untimed "one minute" tasks almost always run short.
What is a one-minute paper?
A classroom technique where students write for exactly sixty seconds on what they learned and what remains unclear. It is used as a fast comprehension check at the end of a session.
Can I share this link with my class?
Yes - just copy the link from the box above and paste it into your LMS, email, or messaging app. When students open it they get a 1m timer that's ready to start with one tap. No account or download needed.
Does the timer save my progress?
The timer runs entirely in your browser - progress is not saved between page loads. If you refresh or close the tab the timer resets to 1m. For a timer that auto-starts when someone opens the link, add ?autostart=1 to the URL or use the shareable timer generator.
Can I add a label to my timer?
Absolutely. Add a ?label= parameter to the URL - for example https://stopwatch.now/timer-link/1m?label=Math+Quiz. The label appears above the countdown. You can also use the timer link generator to build a labelled timer link without editing URLs by hand.
Can I make the timer auto-start when someone opens the link?
Yes. Add ?autostart=1 to the URL. For example: https://stopwatch.now/timer-link/1m?autostart=1. The timer will begin counting down the moment the page loads - no click required.