3 Hour Timer
Free shareable timer - copy the link and anyone can start counting down instantly.
Why a 3 hour timer?
Three hours is exam length rather than work-block length. It is the standard duration of a university final, a professional qualifying paper and most A-level or AP papers, and almost nothing else is scheduled at exactly this size on purpose.
Rehearsing it matters more than rehearsing shorter papers, because three hours is long enough for pacing errors to compound. Candidates who have only ever practised in one-hour chunks routinely spend too long on the opening section and finish the last one in a scramble.
What people use a 3 hour timer for
- Final and qualifying exams. The usual length of a university final or professional paper - run it once, unpaused, exactly as it will be on the day.
- Full mock papers. Timed practice at the real duration, which is the only way section pacing becomes automatic.
- Long revision sessions. A supervised study block with a visible, shared end time for everyone in the room.
- Slow roasts and braises. Large joints, stocks and low-temperature cooking that need three hours before the next step.
- Workshops and lab sessions. A full afternoon session where the countdown, not a wall clock, sets the pace.
Other preset timer lengths
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a three hour timer keep running if I switch tabs or lock the screen?
It tracks elapsed clock time rather than counting frames, so switching tabs or minimising the window does not slow it down. A locked phone can suspend the page and delay the alert, so on mobile keep the screen awake if you are relying on the sound.
How should I pace a three hour exam?
Divide the paper by marks rather than by sections, and set yourself a checkpoint at the hour and two-hour marks. Knowing where you should be at each checkpoint is what stops the last section being written in fifteen minutes.
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 3h 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 3h. 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/3h?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/3h?autostart=1. The timer will begin counting down the moment the page loads - no click required.