Soft-boiled eggs
Six minutes is one of the most quoted times for an egg with a set white and a runny or jammy centre. A simple method: lower the eggs into water that is already boiling, press Start on the 6 minute timer, and move them to cold water when the alarm sounds. If your first attempt is too soft, add 30 seconds next time by entering 6 minutes and 30 seconds in the custom fields.
Rehearsing a PechaKucha talk
In the PechaKucha format, 20 slides advance automatically every 20 seconds, for a total of 6 minutes 40 seconds. You can rehearse in two ways:
- Set exactly 6:40 using the minutes and seconds fields, then press Set the timer.
- Use the 6 minute preset as a stricter target, leaving 40 seconds of margin for nerves and applause.
Each slide is 20 seconds, so at 03:20 remaining on a 6:40 timer you should be at slide 11.
Six minutes as a unit of time
Six minutes is exactly 0.1 hour, which is why time sheets and billing systems that work in tenths of an hour count in six-minute steps: 18 minutes = 0.3 h, 42 minutes = 0.7 h. To convert other durations into decimal hours, use the time calculator.
Drills and classroom tasks
A six-minute block is long enough for a meaningful drill and still short enough to hold attention: a timed reading passage, a set of practice questions, or a stretch of skipping rope. Full screen keeps the countdown visible from across the room.
How the timer works
Start, Pause and Reset at any time, and +1 min for a little extra. The alarm can be muted, and phones that support it vibrate. The timer stays exact in background tabs, keeps the screen awake while running where supported and works offline once loaded. Nearby lengths: the 5 minute timer and the 8 minute timer.