How to use the stopwatch
- Press Start (or the Space bar) to begin timing.
- Press Lap (or L) to record a split without stopping the clock.
- Press Stop to pause, then Start to continue, or Reset to clear.
What people time with a stopwatch
- Running and swimming: lap splits on a track or in the pool. Turn splits into pace with the running pace calculator.
- Speeches and presentations: rehearse and check you fit the time slot.
- Science experiments: reaction times, pendulum swings and dropping objects.
- Games and puzzles: speed-cubing, quizzes and timed challenges.
- Work tasks: measure how long routine jobs take to plan your day better.
Lap time vs total time
The lap time is how long that single lap took, measured from the previous lap. The total (or split) is the time since you first pressed Start. Coaches watch lap times to see whether an athlete is speeding up or slowing down. The fastest lap is shown in green and the slowest in red once you have three or more laps.
Need to count down instead? Use the online timer.
Last reviewed October 2026.