Target Heart Rate Calculator

Calculate your training heart-rate zones from your age. See your maximum heart rate and the fat-burning, cardio and peak zones, with Karvonen zones if you enter a resting heart rate.

Enter your age and, optionally, your resting heart rate. The calculator finds your maximum heart rate (220 minus age) and your fat-burning, cardio and peak zones. Entering a resting heart rate switches to the more personalised Karvonen method.

Enter 0 to use simple % of max zones
Maximum heart rate
Fat-burn zone (50%)
Fat-burn zone (69%)
Cardio zone (70%)
Cardio zone (84%)
Peak zone (85%)
Peak zone (100%)

A target heart rate calculator finds the beats-per-minute ranges to aim for during cardio, so you train in the right zone for fat burning, fitness or performance. Add your resting heart rate for personalised Karvonen zones.

The maths

  • Max HR = 220 − age
  • Simple zones = max HR × 50–69% (fat burn), 70–84% (cardio), 85–100% (peak)
  • Karvonen = (max HR − resting HR) × % + resting HR

Examples

  • Age 30 = max HR 190 bpm
  • Fat-burn zone 95–131 bpm
  • Entering a resting HR of 60 shifts the zones slightly

Frequently asked questions

Which method is better?

The Karvonen method (with resting HR) is more personalised because it accounts for your fitness level. The simple percentage-of-max method is fine when you don't know your resting heart rate.

Is '220 minus age' accurate?

It's a rough estimate with a wide margin. A newer formula (208 − 0.7 × age) is a bit more accurate, but for training zones the simple version is widely used.

Just for the giggles, much love.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram