3 Minute Timer
Free shareable timer - copy the link and anyone can start counting down instantly.
Why a 3 minute timer?
Three minutes is a round. In professional men's boxing it is literally the round length, followed by a minute on the stool - a work-to-rest structure so effective that circuit training, sparring drills and conditioning classes borrowed it wholesale.
It is also where most black teas finish steeping. Push a strong black tea much past three minutes and you start extracting tannins that taste harsh, which is why tea instructions are written in minutes rather than left to judgement.
What people use a 3 minute timer for
- Boxing and sparring rounds. The standard professional round length - three minutes of work, one minute of rest.
- Steeping black tea. Most black teas are finished at three minutes; beyond that the tannins turn the cup bitter.
- Lightning talks. The usual slot at a meetup or internal demo, short enough that speakers cut to the point.
- Soft-boiled eggs. Around three minutes from boiling gives a fully runny yolk and a just-set white.
- Circuit training stations. Three minutes per station lets a group rotate through a whole circuit on a predictable clock.
Other preset timer lengths
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are boxing rounds three minutes?
Three minutes of work with a one-minute rest became the professional standard because it is long enough to test conditioning without letting fatigue degrade technique entirely. Amateur and women's professional bouts often use two-minute rounds instead.
How long should I steep black tea?
Around three minutes for most black teas. Green teas want less - typically two to three - because they turn bitter faster.
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 3m 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 3m. 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/3m?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/3m?autostart=1. The timer will begin counting down the moment the page loads - no click required.