Circuit Timer
A free online circuit timer for timed workouts, exercise circuits and circuit training.
Set Your Circuit
The timer is preloaded with a standard circuit: 30 seconds of work, 15 seconds of rest, 8 exercises, 3 rounds. Each period starts automatically with an audio alert.
Free Circuit Timer Online
This circuit timer is a free online timer built for workouts made of several exercises in a row. You choose a work time, a rest time, the number of exercises in your circuit and how many rounds you want to complete — the circuit workout timer then counts every period down for you and signals each transition with a sound.
Everything runs in your browser, on your phone or on your desktop, with nothing to install. Whether you are doing circuit training at home, a bodyweight session in the living room or a station-based circuit at the gym, set your intervals once and let the online timer handle the rest of the workout.
How to Use the Circuit Timer
Set your work time
Choose how long you want to perform each exercise.
Set your rest time
Add a rest period between exercises.
Choose exercises and rounds
Set the number of exercises in your circuit and how many rounds you want to complete.
Start your circuit
Press start and follow the timer through your entire workout.
What Is a Circuit Timer?
A circuit timer is a workout timer built around a sequence of exercises rather than a single one. You pick a list of movements — squats, push-ups, lunges, planks — and the timer moves you from one to the next: work for a fixed time, rest for a fixed time, then start the following exercise. Once you reach the end of the list, the circuit repeats for as many rounds as you set.
That structure is what makes a circuit training timer different from a plain stopwatch: because every work and rest period is timed, you never have to look at a clock or decide when to move on. The format is also easy to vary — keep the same timing and swap the exercises, and the same circuit becomes a strength, cardio or full-body workout. That is why circuits work equally well at home, at the gym between stations, and in sports conditioning.
Circuit Timer vs. Other Workout Timers
All of these timers use work and rest periods, but each one is built for a different training format.
| Timer | Best for |
|---|---|
| Circuit Timer | Multiple exercises performed in sequence |
| HIIT Timer | High-intensity work and recovery intervals |
| Tabata Timer | 20-second work / 10-second rest Tabata |
| EMOM Timer | Completing an exercise at the start of every minute |
| AMRAP Timer | As many rounds or reps as possible in a fixed time |
| Interval Timer | Repeating work and rest intervals |
Not sure which format you need? Start from the online workout timer and adjust from there, or compare every format on all workout timers.
What Can You Use a Circuit Timer For?
One exercise circuit timer, many training styles.
Circuit Training
A fixed list of stations, timed work and rest, repeated for several rounds.
Bodyweight Workouts
Squats, push-ups, planks and lunges chained together with no equipment.
Gym Workouts
Move between machines on a timer instead of guessing your rest between sets.
Home Workouts
A full session in a small space — pick your exercises and start.
Strength Circuits
Longer work periods with dumbbells or kettlebells, and enough rest to keep good form.
Cardio Circuits
Jumping jacks, high knees and burpees with short rest to keep the heart rate high.
Full-Body Workouts
Alternate upper body, lower body and core in the same circuit.
CrossFit-Style Workouts
Mixed functional movements run as timed stations — see the CrossFit timer for WOD formats.
Circuit Workout Examples
Three circuits you can run with the timer above. Load the settings, then follow your own list of exercises.
Beginner Circuit
30 sec squats · 30 sec push-ups · 30 sec lunges · 30 sec rest
Full-Body Circuit
Squats · Push-ups · Mountain climbers · Lunges · Plank
Cardio Circuit
Jumping jacks · High knees · Burpees · Mountain climbers
Set the number of exercises to match your list, and add rounds to make the workout longer.
Why Use an Online Circuit Timer?
- Free to use
- No app required
- Works on mobile and desktop
- Easy to customize
- Audio alerts
- No equipment required
Circuit Timer FAQ
Why station changes have to be counted as part of the rest is explained in our guide to work-to-rest ratios.
What is a circuit timer?
A circuit timer is a workout timer that runs a sequence of exercises with timed work and rest periods, then repeats that sequence for the number of rounds you choose.
How do you use a circuit timer?
Set your work time, your rest time, the number of exercises in your circuit and the number of rounds, then press Start. The timer moves through each period automatically with an audio cue at every transition.
What is a good work-to-rest ratio for circuit training?
A 1:1 ratio such as 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest is a good starting point. As you progress, shorten the rest to a 2:1 ratio like 40/20 to increase the intensity.
Can I use a circuit timer for home workouts?
Yes. Circuits work well at home because they need no equipment — pick a few bodyweight exercises, set your intervals and start the timer.
Can I use a circuit timer at the gym?
Yes. Use it to move between stations or machines on a fixed schedule instead of resting for an undefined amount of time between sets.
Is this circuit timer free?
Yes. This online circuit timer is completely free, with no account, no download and no locked features.
What is the difference between a circuit timer and an interval timer?
A circuit timer is organised around a list of different exercises repeated over several rounds, while an interval timer simply repeats the same work and rest intervals whatever you are doing.
More Workout Timers
Workout Timer
Work, rest, rounds and sets.
Open workout timer →Training Timer
Structured training sessions from warm-up to cool-down.
Open training timer →Exercise Timer
Timed exercises, sets and rest periods.
Open exercise timer →Interval Timer
Custom work and rest intervals.
Open interval timer →HIIT Timer
High-intensity work and recovery intervals.
Open HIIT timer →Tabata Timer
20-second work / 10-second rest.
Open Tabata timer →EMOM Timer
Every Minute On the Minute workouts.
Open EMOM timer →AMRAP Timer
Maximum rounds or reps in a fixed time.
Open AMRAP timer →Ready to Start Your Circuit?
Set your work time, rest time, exercises and rounds, then start your circuit workout.
Start Circuit Timer