# 4 Minute Timer > 4 minute timer for eggs, tea steeps, and quick drills, with an alarm at zero and a count-up after. Free, runs locally in your browser, no signup required. - **Canonical URL:** https://boringtoolskit.com/four-minute-timer/ - **Category:** Timers - **Evidence level:** authored-methodology - **Reviewed:** 2026-09-22 - **Last verified:** 2026-10-18 - **Privacy:** Inputs and results stay in this browser unless the page clearly labels an external request. ## How it works A 4-minute countdown timer starts at 240 seconds, counts down to zero, then rings and switches to counting up until you dismiss it, so you always know how long you left the thing unattended. ## Worked example You drop eggs into boiling water at 7:02, start the 4-minute timer, and at 7:06 it rings with the yolks jammy and set. If you get pulled away, the count-up shows you rang at 7:06 and the eggs have been sitting for 2 minutes. ## Assumptions - The timer counts down 4 minutes, rings once, then counts up until dismissed; closing or refreshing the tab stops it. - Browser timers pause in some mobile browsers when the page is backgrounded, so cooking use assumes the device stays awake or the tab stays open. - Egg and tea timings assume sea-level boiling water and fridge-temperature ingredients; altitude and starting temperature shift the results. ## Common questions ### How long does it take to soft-boil an egg? About 4 minutes in boiling water gives a set white with a liquid or jammy yolk for a standard medium egg. Start counting when the water returns to a boil, and cool the egg immediately in ice water to stop the cooking. ### Is a 4-minute timer good for the Tabata workout? Yes. The original Tabata protocol is exactly 4 minutes: eight rounds of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. Start the timer on your first sprint and you will finish on the last rest. ### Can I use a 4-minute timer for tea? Yes, four minutes is a common steep for green and white teas when you want a fuller strength. Delicate green teas are often better at 2 to 3 minutes, so pull earlier if the cup tastes bitter. ### What happens when the 4-minute timer reaches zero? It rings and then starts counting up from zero, showing how much time has passed since it rang. It keeps counting until you dismiss it, so if you are away you can see how overdue the eggs or tea are. ### How accurate is a browser timer for cooking? A browser timer keeps time with your device clock and is accurate to the second for typical kitchen use. Keep the tab open in the background; closing the tab stops it entirely, so use a phone timer if you will leave the room. ### What can I do in four minutes? Common uses include a soft-boiled egg, a strong tea steep, one Tabata round, a quick stretch or breathing reset, and small household tasks like a microwave reheat or a rapid tidy of one surface. It is long enough to finish something small and short enough to start without dread. ### Does altitude change 4-minute egg timing? Yes. Water boils below 212 degrees Fahrenheit at altitude, so eggs cook slower and typically need an extra 30 seconds to a minute. Adjust from your own results, using the 4-minute mark as the baseline. ## Related tools - /three-minute-timer/ - /five-minute-timer/ - /two-minute-timer/ ## Sources - [Effects of moderate-intensity endurance and high-intensity intermittent training on anaerobic capacity and VO2max](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8897392/) - [Tabata protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabata_protocol) - [Boiled egg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_egg) --- *Local planning estimate. Verify current terms, rates, and policies before acting.*