How to Calculate Healthy Heart Rate

Healthy Heart Rate Calculator

Measure this in the morning before getting out of bed.
Moderate (50% – Light warmup) Fat Burning (60% – Weight control) Aerobic (70% – Fitness improvement) Anaerobic (80% – Performance training) Max Effort (90% – Intervals)

Your Personalized Results

Max Heart Rate
HR Reserve

How to Calculate Healthy Heart Rate Zones

Understanding your target heart rate is the most effective way to ensure your workouts are both safe and efficient. Whether you are aiming for weight loss or cardiovascular endurance, your heart rate serves as a real-time indicator of exercise intensity.

The Karvonen Formula Explained

While the simple formula (220 minus age) is common, our calculator uses the more accurate Karvonen Formula. This method incorporates your resting heart rate (RHR) to provide a personalized range. The logic follows these steps:

  • Maximum Heart Rate (MHR): Estimated at 220 – Age.
  • Heart Rate Reserve (HRR): MHR minus your Resting Heart Rate.
  • Target Heart Rate: (HRR × Intensity %) + Resting Heart Rate.

Heart Rate Training Zones

Depending on your goals, you should aim for specific intensity percentages:

Zone Intensity Benefits
Fat Burn 60-70% Optimizes weight management.
Aerobic 70-80% Improves cardiovascular fitness.
Anaerobic 80-90% Increases speed and lactic acid tolerance.

Example Calculation

If you are 30 years old with a resting heart rate of 60 BPM and want to train at 70% intensity (Aerobic Zone):

  1. Max HR: 220 – 30 = 190 BPM
  2. HR Reserve: 190 – 60 = 130 BPM
  3. Target: (130 × 0.70) + 60 = 151 BPM

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a normal resting heart rate?
A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Athletes often have lower rates, sometimes between 40 to 50 BPM.
When should I measure my resting heart rate?
The best time is immediately after waking up, before you have any caffeine or start moving around.
Note: Always consult with a physician before starting a new vigorous exercise program, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
function calculateHeartRate() { var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("userAge").value); var rest = parseFloat(document.getElementById("restHR").value); var intensity = parseFloat(document.getElementById("intensity").value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById("heartRateResult"); var targetDisplay = document.getElementById("targetBPM"); var maxHRDisplay = document.getElementById("maxHRVal"); var hrReserveDisplay = document.getElementById("hrReserveVal"); var summaryDisplay = document.getElementById("zoneSummary"); if (isNaN(age) || isNaN(rest) || age <= 0 || rest <= 0) { alert("Please enter a valid age and resting heart rate."); return; } // Karvonen Formula Logic var maxHR = 220 – age; var hrReserve = maxHR – rest; // Calculate the target for the selected percentage var targetBPM = Math.round((hrReserve * intensity) + rest); // Calculate a 10% range for more useful feedback var lowerRange = Math.round((hrReserve * (intensity – 0.05)) + rest); var upperRange = Math.round((hrReserve * (intensity + 0.05)) + rest); // Display values maxHRDisplay.innerText = maxHR + " BPM"; hrReserveDisplay.innerText = hrReserve + " BPM"; targetDisplay.innerText = targetBPM + " BPM"; targetDisplay.style.color = "#d32f2f"; var zoneName = ""; if (intensity < 0.6) zoneName = "Moderate Warmup"; else if (intensity < 0.7) zoneName = "Fat Burn Zone"; else if (intensity < 0.8) zoneName = "Aerobic Fitness Zone"; else if (intensity < 0.9) zoneName = "Anaerobic Performance Zone"; else zoneName = "Maximum Effort Zone"; summaryDisplay.innerText = "To stay in the " + zoneName + ", maintain your heart rate between " + lowerRange + " and " + upperRange + " BPM."; resultDiv.style.display = "block"; resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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