3 Minutes Timer
A free, full-screen 3 Minutes countdown with an alarm. Press Start and it counts down from 3 Minutes; when it reaches zero, the alarm sounds.
How it works
Three minutes is the standard for a soft-boiled egg with a set white and runny yolk, and it's also a common steeping time for black tea and the length of a boxing round. Each of these has a reason for landing near three minutes: egg proteins firm up predictably in that window, black tea's stronger leaf needs longer than green to release flavor, and a 3-minute round is long enough to test a boxer's conditioning without exhausting them before the fight is decided.
For an egg, start the timer only after the water is at a full boil and the egg has gone in — a cold start or a simmer instead of a boil will throw off the timing even with the clock right.
Common uses
- Boiling a soft-boiled egg with a just-set white and runny yolk.
- Steeping black tea, which typically needs 3 to 5 minutes for full flavor.
- Timing a boxing or kickboxing round at the standard 3-minute length.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the 3 Minutes timer keep running if I switch tabs?
- Yes. The 3 Minutes countdown is based on the real clock, so it stays accurate in the background and the alarm still rings when time is up.
- Will it make a sound when the time is up?
- Yes — a short alarm beep plays when the countdown reaches zero. Make sure your device isn't muted.
- How long is a 3-minute egg really?
- Three minutes in fully boiling water gives a soft-boiled egg with a fully set white and a still-liquid, warm yolk. For a slightly firmer but still runny yolk, 4 minutes is common; 6 to 7 minutes gets you a jammy, fully firm yolk.
- Why are boxing rounds 3 minutes long?
- Three minutes is long enough to require real conditioning and force fighters to pace themselves, but short enough to allow multiple rounds with recovery time between them. It's been the standard round length in professional boxing for over a century.