Online Egg Timer - Soft, Medium & Hard Boiled Presets
Never overcook an egg again. Pick a preset, press Start, and get an alert when your eggs are done.
Choose Your Egg Timer
Use a preset for common boiled egg textures, or enter a custom time.
Egg Boiling Guide
Soft Boiled - 3 min
Runny, golden yolk with a fully set white. Best for toast soldiers. Start in cold water, bring to boil, then time from when it boils.
Medium - 5 min
A jammy yolk with a slightly fudgy center. Perfect for ramen, salads, or eating on its own.
Hard Boiled - 7 min
Firm, fully set yolk. Great for egg salad, devilled eggs, or packed lunches. Plunge into cold water immediately after.
Extra Hard - 10 min
Very firm yolk with a slightly chalky texture. Best for devilled eggs or dishes that need crumbled yolk.
Tip: These times assume eggs straight from the fridge and boiling water at sea level. Adjust by +1 min for fridge-cold eggs in cold-start water, or -30 sec for room-temperature eggs.
How to Time Boiled Eggs Accurately
The most important part of boiling eggs is choosing when the timer starts. For consistent results, bring water to a rolling boil first, gently lower the eggs into the pot, then start the egg timer immediately. When the timer ends, move the eggs straight into cold water to stop carryover cooking. This keeps soft boiled eggs runny and prevents hard boiled yolks from turning dry or grey.
Egg size, starting temperature, and altitude all change the ideal timing. Large fridge-cold eggs usually match the presets on this page. Room-temperature eggs cook slightly faster, while jumbo eggs need more time. If you live at high altitude, water boils at a lower temperature, so add roughly 30 seconds per 1,000 feet above sea level.
Boiling Presets by Result
| Result | Preset | Texture | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft boiled | 3 minutes | Runny yolk, set white | Toast, breakfast bowls |
| Medium boiled | 5 minutes | Jammy yolk | Ramen, salads, snacks |
| Hard boiled | 7 minutes | Firm yolk | Lunch boxes, egg salad |
| Extra hard | 10 minutes | Very firm yolk | Devilled eggs, crumbled toppings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I start timing from cold water or boiling?
These presets assume you start timing once the water reaches a full boil. If you start eggs in cold water, add about 2 minutes to each preset. The cold-start method gives slightly more even cooking.
Why do altitude and egg size matter?
Water boils at a lower temperature at altitude, so eggs take longer. For every 1,000 ft above sea level, add about 30 seconds. Larger eggs also need extra time - for jumbo eggs, add 1 minute to each preset.
Will I hear the alarm from another room?
The alarm plays through your device speakers. Make sure your volume is turned up. On mobile, ensure the device is not muted. The Alarm sound option is the loudest.