FREE · ONE TAP · ALARM
3 Minute Timer
A free 3 minute timer with an alarm, already set. Press Start and it counts down, full screen if you like, and rings at zero.
3 minute timer
Press Start or the space bar.
Space start or pause · R reset · F full screen · Esc exit
The short answer
A 3 minute timer counts down 180 seconds and rings at zero. Press Start above and it begins at once, with big digits, full screen and a kids view. Three minutes suits a quick reset between tasks: a stretch, a slow-breathing break, a gratitude list or a speed tidy of one corner.
What fits in 3 minutes?
Three minutes is a reset: long enough to change what you are doing, short enough to fit between two meetings or two chapters.
- A stretch break. Stand, reach up, roll your neck and shoulders, and walk to the window and back.
- Slow breathing. In for 4 counts, out for 6: about 18 breaths fill three minutes. Want a guided session with bells? Use the meditation timer.
- Three things you are grateful for. Write them down with one reason each. Here is how to start a gratitude journal.
- Speed-tidy one corner. The desk, the entry table or the bathroom sink. Three minutes, then stop.
- Steep a pot of tea. Many black teas steep for 3 to 5 minutes; check the package, and use the wait to fill your water bottle.
How to use the 3 minute timer
- Press Start. The timer is already set to 3 minutes. The space bar starts and pauses it too.
- Need a different time? Type it in the box, such as 7, 7m 30s or 7:30, and press Set. Or tap another preset.
- Make it big. Full screen (or F) shows only the countdown. Kids view shows a big colored disk that shrinks as time runs out.
- When it rings, press Stop alarm or the space bar. Restart runs the same 3 minutes again; +1 min snoozes for a minute.
The timer saves the moment it will end on your device, so it stays accurate in a background tab and after a reload, and the time left shows in the tab title. The page has to stay open for the alarm to play.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3-minute break long enough to help?
It can help a little. A meta-analysis of 22 samples found that breaks of up to 10 minutes gave small boosts in energy and small drops in fatigue, while longer breaks helped performance more after demanding work.
How do I set 3 minutes 30 seconds?
Type 3:30 or 3m 30s in the box and press Set. You can also start the 3 minute timer and press +1 min, which adds a whole minute.
Can I run the 3 minute timer several times in a row?
Yes. When it rings, press Restart or the space bar and the same three minutes start again. For rounds of work and breaks, the Pomodoro timer switches between them for you.
Sources and evidence
- Albulescu et al. (2022): Give me a break! A meta-analysis of micro-breaks — Across 22 samples (2,335 people), breaks of up to 10 minutes gave small boosts to energy and small drops in fatigue; longer breaks helped performance more after demanding work.
Updated .