Resting Heart Rate Calculator
Classify your measured resting heart rate into a fitness category using published resting-heart-rate-by-age-and-gender bands.
bpm
yrs
Fitness Category
Based on Age & Gender
Good
How to Use the Resting Heart Rate Calculator
Enter your measured resting heart rate — your pulse taken at rest, ideally first thing in the morning before getting out of bed — along with your age and gender, and this tool classifies it into a fitness category using published resting-heart-rate-by-age-and-gender bands, similar to charts commonly used by fitness organizations. A lower resting heart rate generally reflects better cardiovascular fitness.
Example
A 30-year-old male with a measured resting heart rate of 68 bpm falls in the 26-35 age bracket, where 68 bpm lands in the "Good" category — above "Excellent" (60-64 bpm) but better than "Above Average" (70-73 bpm).
Common Use Cases
- Checking how your morning resting pulse compares to others of your age and gender.
- Tracking whether your cardiovascular fitness is improving as your resting heart rate drops over time.
- Getting context on a resting heart rate reading from a fitness tracker or smartwatch.
FAQs
- How is this different from the Heart Rate Calculator? The Heart Rate Calculator estimates your maximum heart rate and training zones from a formula based only on your age (220 − age, or the Tanaka formula) — it doesn't use a measured pulse at all. This Resting Heart Rate Calculator does the opposite: it takes a pulse number YOU actually measured at rest and classifies it into a fitness category. It calculates no maximum or target values.
- How is this different from the Target Heart Rate Calculator? The Target Heart Rate Calculator uses the Karvonen formula to compute a target training zone (a range of bpm to aim for during exercise) from your age, resting heart rate, and desired intensity. This tool doesn't calculate any target or training zone — it only classifies your already-measured resting pulse into a fitness category like Excellent, Good, or Average.
- How do I measure my resting heart rate accurately? Take your pulse for a full 60 seconds right after waking up, while still lying down, before coffee, exercise, or checking your phone. Measuring on a few different mornings and averaging the results gives a more reliable number than a single reading, since resting heart rate can fluctuate day to day with sleep, stress, and hydration.