Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute while you are at complete rest. It is a powerful indicator of your overall cardiovascular health and aerobic fitness. A lower RHR typically implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness, as the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood throughout the body.
How to Accurately Measure Your Heart Rate
For the most accurate result using this calculator, follow these steps:
Timing: Measure your pulse first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed.
Preparation: Avoid caffeine, nicotine, or exercise for at least 2 hours before measuring.
Technique: Place two fingers (index and middle) on your wrist (radial artery) or the side of your neck (carotid artery).
Counting: Count the beats for 15 or 30 seconds, then enter that number into the calculator above.
Resting Heart Rate Chart for Adults
Category
Men (BPM)
Women (BPM)
Athlete
49 – 54
54 – 59
Excellent
55 – 61
60 – 64
Good
62 – 65
65 – 68
Above Average
66 – 70
69 – 72
Average
71 – 74
73 – 76
Below Average
75 – 81
77 – 82
Poor
82+
83+
Examples of Heart Rate Logic
Example 1: A 30-year-old male counts 16 beats in 15 seconds. 16 multiplied by 4 equals 64 BPM. This falls into the "Good" category for his age group.
Example 2: A 45-year-old female counts 40 beats in 30 seconds. 40 multiplied by 2 equals 80 BPM. This falls into the "Below Average" category, suggesting she might benefit from more cardiovascular activity.
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Keep in mind that RHR can be affected by various factors beyond fitness:
Stress/Anxiety: High stress levels can elevate heart rate temporarily.
Temperature: Heart rate often rises in high heat or humidity.
Medication: Beta-blockers can lower heart rate, while some asthma medications may increase it.
Dehydration: When dehydrated, the blood volume decreases, forcing the heart to beat faster.
function calculateRHR() {
var beats = parseFloat(document.getElementById('beatsCounted').value);
var duration = parseFloat(document.getElementById('durationSeconds').value);
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById('userAge').value);
var gender = document.getElementById('userGender').value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('rhr-result-container');
var bpmDisplay = document.getElementById('rhr-value-display');
var categoryDisplay = document.getElementById('rhr-category-display');
var feedbackDisplay = document.getElementById('rhr-feedback');
if (isNaN(beats) || isNaN(duration) || beats <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid pulse count.");
return;
}
var bpm = Math.round((beats / duration) * 60);
bpmDisplay.innerHTML = bpm;
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
var category = "";
var color = "";
var feedback = "";
// General Classification Logic (Simplified standard brackets)
if (gender === 'male') {
if (bpm < 50) { category = "Athlete"; color = "#1b5e20"; }
else if (bpm <= 61) { category = "Excellent"; color = "#2e7d32"; }
else if (bpm <= 65) { category = "Good"; color = "#4caf50"; }
else if (bpm <= 70) { category = "Above Average"; color = "#8bc34a"; }
else if (bpm <= 74) { category = "Average"; color = "#fbc02d"; }
else if (bpm <= 81) { category = "Below Average"; color = "#ffa000"; }
else { category = "Poor"; color = "#d32f2f"; }
} else {
if (bpm < 55) { category = "Athlete"; color = "#1b5e20"; }
else if (bpm <= 64) { category = "Excellent"; color = "#2e7d32"; }
else if (bpm <= 68) { category = "Good"; color = "#4caf50"; }
else if (bpm <= 72) { category = "Above Average"; color = "#8bc34a"; }
else if (bpm <= 76) { category = "Average"; color = "#fbc02d"; }
else if (bpm <= 82) { category = "Below Average"; color = "#ffa000"; }
else { category = "Poor"; color = "#d32f2f"; }
}
categoryDisplay.innerHTML = category;
categoryDisplay.style.backgroundColor = color;
categoryDisplay.style.color = "white";
if (bpm 100) {
feedback = "Note: Your resting heart rate is high (Tachycardia). This can be caused by stress, caffeine, or underlying conditions.";
} else {
feedback = "This result is based on standard adult cardiovascular fitness charts.";
}
feedbackDisplay.innerHTML = feedback;
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}