About the Stopwatch
Time a run, a presentation, a recipe or a workout with this free online stopwatch. It counts to the hundredth of a second, records lap and split times, and highlights your fastest and slowest laps. Because it measures real elapsed time, it stays accurate even if you switch to another tab.
How to use the Stopwatch
- Press Start (or the Space bar) to begin timing.
- Press Lap (or L) to record a lap without stopping the clock.
- Press Stop to pause, then Resume to carry on.
- Press Reset (or R) to clear the time and laps. Copy laps to paste them anywhere.
Features
- Accurate to 1/100 of a second
- Unlimited laps with lap and total (split) times
- Fastest and slowest laps highlighted
- Keyboard shortcuts: Space, L and R
- Keeps exact time in background tabs
How accurate is an online stopwatch?
This stopwatch reads your device's high-resolution clock each time the display refreshes, rather than counting timer ticks, so small delays never add up. Browsers slow down pages in background tabs, but because the elapsed time is always calculated from the start moment, the reading is still correct when you come back.
Lap time vs split time
A lap time is how long one lap took on its own, for example 1:05 for the third lap of a track. A split (or total) time is the time since you started, for example 3:20 when the third lap ends. The laps table shows both, so you can see your pace and your overall progress at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Does the stopwatch keep running in another tab?
Yes. It measures real elapsed time, so the reading is correct even after the tab has been in the background.
How do I record a lap?
Press Lap while the stopwatch is running, or press the L key. Each lap shows its own time and the total time.
Can I use the keyboard?
Yes. Space starts and stops, L records a lap and R resets when stopped.
Can I save my lap times?
Press Copy laps to copy all lap and total times, then paste them into a spreadsheet, note or message.