Egg Timer
Eggs ready: lift them out and put them in ice water.
Set. Start. Take a breath.
Extra time applies to this session only.
Start the timer when the water reaches a boil. One tap starts it.
Soft and medium: USDA advises cooking eggs until both yolk and white are firm, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. For runny yolks, consider pasteurized eggs.
Typical range for soft: 4:00–6:00. Adjust before you start.
American Egg Board method for hard-cooked eggs
- Put the eggs in a single layer and cover with cold water, 1 inch above the eggs.
- Heat just to boiling.
- Remove from the heat, cover, and tap your egg size to start the timer.
- Drain and cool the eggs in ice water.
Outside the typical ranges on this page.
Pause and reset to change the start time.
Sound & display Make it work for you
Press Test sound to check your volume before starting.
Keep this page open. Sound may be delayed or unavailable if your device locks or your browser suspends the page.
Boil eggs about 4–6 minutes for soft, 7–9 for medium and 10–12 for hard (typical times from the American Egg Board). Tap a preset below and we’ll ring when they’re ready.
Pick your egg
Tap Soft, Medium or Hard. Use ±30 s first if you like your eggs a little softer or firmer.
Start at the boil
Tap when the water reaches a boil, or when you take the pan off the heat in the off-the-heat method.
Ice bath
When it rings, lift the eggs out and put them in ice water.
How long to boil an egg
| Egg | Method | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Soft (runny yolk) | Boil | 4–6 min |
| Medium (jammy) | Boil | 7–9 min |
| Hard | Boil | 10–12 min |
| Hard, medium eggs | Off the heat, covered | 9 min |
| Hard, large eggs | Off the heat, covered | 12 min |
| Hard, extra large eggs | Off the heat, covered | 15 min |
Boil times: the American Egg Board’s chef. Off-the-heat times: the American Egg Board. Times are typical, not exact science: your pan, stove and eggs all make a difference.
Why eggs need a timer
An egg gives you no clue from the outside about what is happening to the yolk. Thirty seconds can be the difference between runny and set. A timer removes the guessing, and it frees you to make the toast instead of hovering over the pan.
Two ways to cook them
In boiling water (soft, medium, hard presets). Typical times from the American Egg Board’s chef are about 4–6 minutes for soft, 7–9 for medium and 10–12 for hard. Use −30 s and +30 s to adjust before you start.
Off the heat (American Egg Board hard-cooked method). Put the eggs in a single layer, cover with cold water about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the eggs and heat just to boiling. Remove the pan from the heat, cover it and start the timer for your egg size: medium 9 minutes, large 12 minutes, extra large 15 minutes. Drain and cool the eggs in ice water.
Tips for better eggs
- Cool them quickly. Moving the eggs into ice water stops the cooking, so the yolk stays the way you timed it.
- Use one size at a time. Bigger eggs need longer; a mixed batch will cook unevenly.
- Write down your perfect time. Pans, stoves and altitude vary, so your best time may differ slightly from the chart.
A note on safety
The USDA advises cooking eggs until both the yolk and the white are firm, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. If you enjoy runny yolks, consider using pasteurized eggs.
The human side
A boiled egg is often the first thing people learn to cook, and one of the first things they cook for someone else. Getting it just right, whether that's a soft egg with soldiers or a firm one for a packed lunch, is a small daily win.
A rhythm for your focus ↗
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Countdowns
More timers and countdowns
Egg timer questions.
How long for a hard-boiled large egg?
About 10–12 minutes in boiling water, or 12 minutes covered off the heat using the American Egg Board method.
Are runny yolks safe?
USDA recommends fully firm eggs for vulnerable groups; pasteurized eggs are an option for runny yolks.
Sources: American Egg Board, How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs; Tasting Table interview with the American Egg Board’s Chef and Director of Innovation (7 Sept 2024); USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Shell Eggs from Farm to Table. Checked October 2026.