Online Stopwatch with Lap Times
A free, accurate online stopwatch that shows hundredths of a second. Record lap and split times, see your fastest and slowest lap, and download the laps as a CSV file. It keeps counting if you switch tabs or reload the page.
Keyboard: Space start / stop · L lap · R reset
| Lap | Lap time | Total time |
|---|
How to use the online stopwatch
- Press Start (or the Space key) to begin timing.
- Press Lap (or L) each time a lap, round or task is finished. The lap time and total time are added to the table.
- Press Stop to pause. Press Start again to continue from the same time, or Reset (R) to start over.
- Use Copy laps to paste the times into a message or sheet, or Download CSV to open them in Excel or Google Sheets.
Use Full screen to show large digits on a projector or TV, for example in a classroom, a quiz or a meeting.
Lap time and split time: what is the difference?
A lap time is the time for one lap only, from the previous lap press to this one. A split time (shown here as total time) is the time from the start of the stopwatch to that lap press. For example, if a runner finishes laps at 1:05, 2:12 and 3:15 total, the lap times are 1:05, 1:07 and 1:03.
When you have at least two laps, the fastest lap is shown in green and the slowest in red, so you can quickly see if your pace is steady.
How accurate is this stopwatch?
The stopwatch does not count ticks. It saves the moment you pressed Start and, on every screen refresh, works out the elapsed time from your device’s clock. That is why it keeps the correct time even when the tab is in the background, the screen is busy or you reload the page. It shows hundredths of a second (0.01 s).
In practice, the biggest error is human reaction time when you press the button. This is typically around 0.2 seconds, which is far larger than the timer’s own error. For races or exams where results must be official, use certified timing equipment.
Ways people use an online stopwatch
- Sports and fitness: running laps, swimming lengths, interval training and plank holds.
- Study and exams: timing practice papers, reading speed or each section of a mock test.
- Work: measuring how long a task takes, timing presentations or tracking billable time.
- Cooking and home: timing steps in a recipe or a child’s turn in a game.
- Classroom and quizzes: showing a big timer on the screen with full-screen mode.
Need to count down from a set time instead? Use our Pomodoro timer for focus sessions with breaks.
Related tools
Pomodoro Timer · Time Duration Calculator · Date Calculator · Typing Speed Test
Frequently asked questions
Does the stopwatch keep running if I close or reload the page?
If you reload the page or come back later in the same browser, it continues from the correct time, because the start time is stored in your browser. If you clear your browser data, the stopwatch resets.
Does it run in the background?
Yes. You can switch to another tab or app; when you come back, the elapsed time is correct.
How many laps can I record?
Up to 999 laps. That is enough for long training sessions and timing many tasks.
Can I use keyboard shortcuts?
Yes: Space starts and stops, L records a lap and R resets the stopwatch when it is stopped. Shortcuts do not work while you are typing in a text box.
How do I save my lap times?
Click Download CSV to save a file that opens in Excel or Google Sheets, or Copy laps to copy them as text.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The buttons are large enough to tap easily and the digits resize to fit your screen.
About this tool. This stopwatch calculates time from your device clock, so it is not affected by the browser slowing down background tabs. Before publishing, we checked starting, stopping, laps, fastest and slowest lap, reload recovery, copy and CSV export on desktop and mobile screen sizes. Your lap times stay in your browser and are not sent to our server.
Last reviewed: October 2026.