Resting Heart Rate Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
For people aged 10 and older, a normal resting heart rate falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute, according to the American Heart Association. Below that, especially in athletic and well-trained people, a lower rate (40 to 60) is common and not necessarily a concern.
Explanation
Resting heart rate, measured when the body is fully relaxed (sitting or lying down, with no recent exertion or stress), is one of the simplest and most accessible indicators of general cardiovascular fitness. According to the American Heart Association, the normal range for people aged 10 and older (adults of all ages, including seniors, who remain in this same range) is 60 to 100 beats per minute; for children aged 7 to 9, this range is slightly higher, 70 to 110. A rate below this range isn't automatically a problem: it's actually a common and generally beneficial finding in highly cardiovascularly trained people, whose more efficient heart pumps more blood per beat and so needs to beat less often — the AHA reports resting rates of 40 to 60 beats per minute in highly trained adults. Conversely, an elevated resting rate can reflect poor fitness, stress, fever, recent caffeine or other stimulant intake, or more rarely an underlying heart issue — a single data point can never distinguish between these very different causes. This indicator differs from our target heart rate calculator, which covers the effort zone DURING exercise, and our heart rate recovery calculator, which measures how fast the heart slows down AFTER exercise.
Example: an adult with a resting rate of 50 beats/min
Inputs
Measured resting heart rate: 50 beats/min. Age: 35.
Calculation
50 beats/min is below the normal 60-100 range for an adult, but matches a common rate for a well-trained athletic person.
Result
This rate is classified as "low" — a common and generally reassuring result for a well-trained person.
Frequently asked questions
Is a low heart rate always a good sign?
In an athletic, well-trained person, yes, generally: it's a sign of an efficient heart. In a non-athletic person, an unusually low rate (accompanied, for example, by dizziness, unusual fatigue, or shortness of breath) does warrant medical attention, since it can sometimes signal a heart rhythm disorder needing care.
When should you see a doctor about an elevated resting heart rate?
A briefly elevated rate after stress, caffeine, or recent activity generally isn't concerning. However, a persistently elevated resting rate (repeatedly above 100 beats per minute, with no obvious cause like fever or recent exertion) is worth discussing with a doctor, who can look for an underlying cause.
How do I correctly measure my resting heart rate?
Ideally in the morning, right after waking up and before getting out of bed, by counting beats for 30 seconds (at the wrist or neck) and doubling the count, or by using a heart rate monitor or a connected watch directly. Avoid measuring right after exercise, stress, or caffeine or tobacco use, which temporarily raise heart rate.