How Do You Set a Timer for Workout Sets?
Boxing Timer replaces a separate rest-timer app thumbed between every set. Open Custom Timer, set Round to how long each set or hold lasts (or a safety cap if you work by reps), Rest to the seconds between sets, and Rounds to how many sets you plan. A bell marks every start and end, so you stop watching the clock.
Set a timer for timed sets (holds, planks, sprints)
If your set has a fixed length, Custom Timer times the set and the rest in one go. Set Round to the set length, Rest to the gap you want between sets, Prep for a short countdown to get in position, and Rounds to the number of sets. There is no rest after the last set, matching how a real workout ends.
- Tap the list icon at the top left to open Setup, then Custom Timer.
- Set Rounds to your number of sets.
- Under Durations, set Round to the hold or work time of one set, and Rest to the gap you want after it.
- Set Prep if you want a countdown before set 1, and a Warning if you want the clacker to fire a few seconds before each set ends.
- Tap Use Once to run it now, or Save & Use to keep it under My Presets.
| Part | Calculation | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | once, before set 1 | 0:10 |
| Work | 4 x 0:45 | 3:00 |
| Rest | 3 x 1:00 (none after set 4) | 3:00 |
| Total | 6:10 |
Set a timer for sets you do by reps (lifting, not by the clock)
You don't know the exact length of a reps-based set in advance, so timing the set itself just doesn't fit. What works instead: set Round as a generous safety cap, long enough that you'd never run out mid-set, do your reps, then tap Skip the second you rack the weight. That ends the set phase early and starts Rest right away, with a bell to mark it.
| Sets | Rest between | Rest gaps | Total rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1:30 | 4 | 6:00 |
| 5 | 2:00 | 4 | 8:00 |
Total rest is (sets − 1) x rest, because there is no rest expected after your last set.
Will I get a warning before rest ends?
The warning clacker only fires during a work Round, not during Rest, so a free timer gives you no heads-up before rest ends, just the bell when it's over. With Pro, the Voice Coach can speak 3, 2, 1 in the last 3 seconds of every rest, so you're already back in position when the bell rings; that is the one feature built specifically for this.
Free vs. Pro for set timers
- Free: Custom Timer with any Round/Rest/Prep/Warning combination, unlimited with Use Once, one saved preset under My Presets, the bell, haptics and the Lock Screen countdown.
- Pro: a second (and further) saved preset, the spoken 3-2-1 rest countdown and round announcements, two extra bell sounds, and no ads between workouts.
Questions and answers
Can I set a different rest after some sets than others?
What if I finish my set before the Round time is up?
Does it tell me when rest is almost over?
Can I save this as a preset for next time?
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