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Heart Rate Zone Calculator

Calculate your personalized heart rate training zones to optimize your workouts. Determine your maximum heart rate and the ideal ranges for fat burning, aerobic training, and high-intensity intervals.

Heart Rate Zone Calculator

Measure your resting heart rate first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.

The traditional formula (220 - age) is simple but may not be accurate for all individuals.

Understanding Heart Rate Zones

What Are Heart Rate Zones?

Heart rate zones are ranges that correspond to different intensity levels during exercise. Training in specific zones can help you achieve different fitness goals, from fat burning to improving cardiovascular endurance.

The Five Heart Rate Zones

Zone% of Max HRIntensityPrimary Benefit
Zone 150-60%Very LightRecovery, health maintenance
Zone 260-70%LightEndurance, fat burning
Zone 370-80%ModerateAerobic capacity
Zone 480-90%HardAnaerobic threshold
Zone 590-100%MaximumPeak performance

Why Heart Rate Training Matters

  • Helps optimize training intensity for specific goals
  • Prevents overtraining by monitoring effort levels
  • Improves workout efficiency and effectiveness
  • Provides measurable progress indicators
  • Helps tailor workouts to individual fitness levels

Tips for Effective Heart Rate Training

  • Invest in a reliable heart rate monitor for accurate readings
  • Spend 80% of your training time in Zones 1-3 for general fitness
  • Use Zone 4-5 training sparingly (1-2 times per week)
  • Allow adequate recovery between high-intensity sessions
  • Reassess your zones every 3-6 months as your fitness improves
Quick Reference

Typical Resting Heart Rates

40-60 Athletes
60-80 Healthy Adults
80-100 Below Average
100+ Consult Doctor

Max Heart Rate Methods

Traditional: 220 - age (simple but less accurate)

Tanaka: 208 - (0.7 × age) (better for older adults)

Gellish: 207 - (0.7 × age) (more accurate overall)

Karvonen: Accounts for resting HR (most personalized)

Heart Rate Training FAQs

Heart Rate Training Tips
1

Warm up in Zone 1-2 for 5-10 minutes before intense workouts to properly prepare your cardiovascular system.

2

Use Zone 2 for long endurance sessions (60+ minutes) to build aerobic capacity without excessive fatigue.

3

Limit Zone 4-5 training to 1-2 sessions per week with at least 48 hours recovery between sessions.

4

Track your resting heart rate over time - decreasing trends indicate improving cardiovascular fitness.

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