According to the American Heart Association, a normal resting heart rate is between 60 (beats per minute) and 100 (beats per minute) for people 15 years and older.
However, a low heart rate can also be common in athletes, people who are physically fit, or people who take medications such as beta-blockers.
The chart below shows normal heart rates by age.
| Age range | Heart Rate (beats per minute, or BPM) |
| Newborn | 100-16 |
| 0-5 months | 90-150 |
| 6-12 months |
80-140 |
| 1-3 years | 80-130 |
| 3-5 years | 80-120 |
| 6-10 years | 70-110 |
| 11-14 years | 60-105 |
| 15 years and older | 60-100 |
What Are Maximum and Target Heart Rates by Age?
The American Heart Association recommends people exercise according to their specific target heart rate zone. Target heart rate zone refers to a safe heart rate range during exercise, and it differs by age.
It is calculated as a percentage (usually between 50 and 85 percent) of your maximum heart rate. Exercising below 50 percent may not help you reach your desired goals of fitness, whereas exercising beyond 85 percent may cause common problems such as sore muscles to something as serious as a heart attack.
How to Calculate Your Maximum Heart Rate and Target Heart Rate
Here are steps to calculate your maximum heart rate and target heart rate zone:
- Subtract your age from 220. If you are 35 years, the maximum heart rate is 220 minus 35 which equals 185 beats per minute (bpm).
- At a 50 percent exertion level, your target would be 50 percent of your maximum heart rate, which equals 93 bpm. At an 85 percent level of exertion, your target would be 157 bpm. Therefore, the target heart rate that a 35-year-old person would want to reach during exercise is 93 to 157 bpm.
Below age-based maximum heart rate and target heart rate zones are listed.
| Age (years) | Target heart rate zone (bpm) | Maximum heart rate (bpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 100 to 170 | 200 |
| 30 | 95 to 162 | 190 |
| 35 | 93 to 157 | 185 |
| 40 | `90 to 153 | 180 |
| 45 | 88 to 149 | 175 |
| 50 | 85 to 145 | 170 |
| 55 | 83 to 140 | 165 |
| 60 | 80 to 136 | 160 |
| 65 | 78 to 132 | 155 |
| 70 | 75 to 128 | 150 |
What Is Heart Rate?
The heart rate, also called the pulse, is the number of times the heartbeats per minute (BPM).
To find your heart rate, check your pulse, which can be felt on your:
- Wrists
- Inside of the elbow
- Side of the neck
- Top of the foot
Place your finger (not your thumb) over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds to get your heart rate.
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Target Heart Rates Chart https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates