Please enter valid numeric values for Age and Heart Rate.
Heart Rate Intensity
0%
Zone 0
Estimated Max Heart Rate
0 BPM
Based on 220 – Age formula
Your Personal Heart Rate Zones
Zone
Intensity %
Range (BPM)
Effect
Understanding Heart Rate Percentage
Calculating your heart rate percentage is a fundamental aspect of cardiovascular training. It allows you to monitor exercise intensity objectively rather than relying solely on perceived exertion. By training at specific percentages of your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR), you can target different physiological adaptations, from fat burning to improved aerobic capacity.
How is Maximum Heart Rate Calculated?
The most common method for estimating Maximum Heart Rate is the formula:
MHR = 220 – Age
While this formula provides a general estimation, individual variances exist. Once you know your MHR, you can calculate the percentage of any given heart rate (BPM) using the formula:
Effective training usually involves spending time in specific heart rate zones:
Zone 1 (50-60%): Very light intensity. Used for warm-ups, cool-downs, and active recovery. Helps improve overall health and recovery.
Zone 2 (60-70%): Light intensity. Often called the "Fat Burning Zone." It builds basic endurance and burns a higher percentage of calories from fat.
Zone 3 (70-80%): Moderate intensity. Improves aerobic fitness and blood circulation in skeletal muscles. This is the sweet spot for endurance training.
Zone 4 (80-90%): Hard intensity. Anaerobic zone. Improves speed endurance and the body's ability to tolerate lactic acid.
Zone 5 (90-100%): Maximum intensity. VO2 Max zone. Sustainable only for very short bursts. Improves peak performance and speed.
Why Monitor Your Heart Rate?
Monitoring your heart rate prevents overtraining and undertraining. If your goal is weight loss, staying in Zone 2 is often recommended for long durations. If you are training for a 5K race, you will need to spend time in Zones 3 and 4 to build speed and stamina. This calculator helps you instantly identify which zone you are currently in based on your age and BPM.