3 Minute Timer
Press Start and it counts down 3 minutes on a big display, then rings with the sound you pick. Space starts and pauses.
Sound and moreBell
A different length
3 minutes
Alarm: Bell
Spacestart or pauseRreset+ / −a minuteFfull screenMmute
Three minutes on the clock
Three minutes is the classic brewing time. The UK Tea & Infusions Association gives 3 to 4 minutes for most black teas, from Assam to Ceylon, and less for some greens. Start the timer as the water goes onto the leaves or the bag rather than when you happen to remember, and the cup comes out the same strength every morning. Most packets give their own time, so check yours; a teapot with loose leaves usually wants the full brew, while a single bag in a mug can be judged by colour.
It is also a tidy slot for speaking. Research students who enter the Three Minute Thesis competition have to explain years of work in this time, and plenty of meetups and school assemblies use three-minute turns to keep things moving. Elsewhere it covers a rest between heavy sets, a quick stretch for stiff shoulders, a round of a word game or the stand time on a microwave meal. For the egg question, timings depend so much on size, starting temperature and altitude that the best plan is to time one, note the result, and adjust next time.
- The UK Tea & Infusions Association recommends brewing black teas such as Assam, Darjeeling and Ceylon for 3 to 4 minutes, oolong for 3 to 5 and Lapsang Souchong for 4 to 5. Source: UK Tea & Infusions Association, Make a perfect brew.
- The Three Minute Thesis competition, run from the University of Queensland, gives doctoral students three minutes to present a thesis that, at 80,000 words, would take about nine hours to read aloud. Source: Three Minute Thesis, University of Queensland.
3 minutes split into equal intervals
Every way to cut 3 minutes into equal parts of at least 5 seconds, for rounds, turns or reps.
| Equal parts | Each part (m:ss) | Each part in seconds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 × 1 min 30 s | 1:30 | 90 |
| 3 × 1 minute | 1:00 | 60 |
| 4 × 45 seconds | 0:45 | 45 |
| 5 × 36 seconds | 0:36 | 36 |
| 6 × 30 seconds | 0:30 | 30 |
| 10 × 18 seconds | 0:18 | 18 |
| 12 × 15 seconds | 0:15 | 15 |
| 15 × 12 seconds | 0:12 | 12 |
| 20 × 9 seconds | 0:09 | 9 |
| 30 × 6 seconds | 0:06 | 6 |
3 minutes in other units
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Seconds | 180 |
| Milliseconds | 180,000 |
| Hours | 0.05 |
| Share of a day | 0.208% |
| Times it fits in a day | 480 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should tea brew?
The UK Tea & Infusions Association suggests 3 to 4 minutes for most black teas, 3 to 5 for oolong and 4 to 5 for Lapsang Souchong; many green teas need less. If the packet gives a different time, follow the packet.
How do I keep a three-minute talk on time?
Start the timer as you say your first word and glance at the display now and then: with a minute left you should be on your final point. Pressing F switches to a full-screen countdown a speaker can read from across the room, and the sound tells everyone the slot is over.
Can I pause the timer part-way?
Yes. Press Pause, or the space bar, and the time left stays exactly where it was; press it again to carry on. Reset puts it back to 3:00. No seconds are lost while paused, because the timer works from timestamps rather than counting ticks.