What is the Lab Timer?
Run countdown and stopwatch timers for lab experiments with this free lab timer. Presets for 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minute incubations, optional step labels, lap times, and an audio alert when the countdown finishes. Runs in your browser — no app install.
How to use the Lab Timer
- Choose Countdown for timed incubations or Stopwatch for elapsed-time tracking.
- Set hours, minutes, and seconds — or click a lab preset (1 min to 1 hour).
- Add an optional label for the current step (e.g. enzyme incubation).
- Press Start. Pause, reset, or record laps on the stopwatch.
- An audio alert plays when the countdown reaches zero.
Common use cases
- Timing 5–30 minute incubation steps
- Tracking centrifuge or mixing intervals
- Recording lap times during multi-step protocols
- Counting down enzyme or chemical reaction holds
- Replacing a phone timer at the lab bench
Frequently asked questions
- Does the lab timer work offline?
- Yes. Once the page is loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser with no server connection required.
- Will I hear an alert when the timer ends?
- The countdown plays a short audio beep when it reaches zero. Browsers may require you to start the timer first (user interaction) before audio can play.
- What lab presets are included?
- Quick presets for 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes — common durations for mixing, reactions, and incubations.
- Can I track multiple steps?
- Use the optional label field to name each countdown step. For elapsed intervals within a run, use stopwatch mode with lap recording.
- Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
- The timer uses your device clock and continues while the tab is open. Background tabs may be throttled by the browser, but time is calculated from timestamps for accuracy.
