Online Stopwatch
Time anything to the hundredth of a second, with pause and lap recording.
How to use the Online Stopwatch
- Press Start to begin timing; press again to pause and resume.
- Tap Lap to record a split without stopping the clock.
- Press Reset to clear the time and all recorded laps.
About the Online Stopwatch
Press Start and the stopwatch begins timing, showing the elapsed time down to a hundredth of a second. The same button pauses the clock and resumes it, so you can stop and carry on without losing your place. Reset clears the display and any recorded laps back to zero, ready for a fresh run.
The Lap button is what makes a stopwatch useful for more than a single stretch. Each tap records a split, the time since your previous lap, without stopping the clock, so the timing carries straight on. Every lap row shows two figures: the split for that lap on its own, and the total elapsed time up to that point, which is exactly what you want for comparing efforts or timing several stages in a row.
Like the timer, it reads your device's clock rather than counting ticks, so it stays accurate even when the tab is running in the background. One honest note: this is an everyday stopwatch, not a certified timing device, and those hundredths of a second depend on your device, so treat them as good enough for training, cooking or games, not for official race results. To count down to a deadline instead, use the online timer, or run structured work sessions with the pomodoro timer.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Lap button do?
It records a split without stopping the clock. Each lap shows both the time since your previous lap and the total time elapsed so far, so you can compare individual segments and still see the running overall total. The stopwatch keeps going the whole time.
How precise is the stopwatch?
It displays to a hundredth of a second. That precision is fine for everyday use like training, cooking or games, but it is not a certified timing instrument and the exact hundredths depend on your device, so do not rely on it for official race timing.
Can I pause and resume without losing my time?
Yes. The Start button doubles as pause and resume. Tapping it stops the clock where it is, and tapping again continues from that point. Reset is separate and clears both the time and all recorded laps back to zero.
Does it keep timing if I switch to another tab?
Yes. It reads your device clock rather than counting ticks in the page, so it stays accurate even when the tab is in the background. Keeping the tab open is still the safest way to be sure it is running.
What is the difference between a stopwatch and a timer?
A stopwatch counts up from zero to measure how long something takes, and lets you record laps along the way. A timer counts down from a length you set and signals when it reaches zero. Use whichever matches whether you are measuring or limiting time.