Heart Rate Zone Calculator

Work out your five training heart rate zones from your age and resting heart rate.

bpm

Your result

Max heart rate185 bpm
Zone 1 – recovery123–135 bpm
Zone 2 – endurance135–148 bpm
Zone 3 – tempo148–160 bpm
Zone 4 – threshold160–173 bpm
Zone 5 – maximum173–185 bpm

Updates as you type. Based on 2025/26 UK figures where relevant.

How this is worked out

Max heart rate is estimated as 220 − age. We use the Karvonen method: zones are percentages of heart rate reserve (max − resting) added to your resting rate.

Tips

  • The NHS uses BMI as a screening tool, but waist measurement also matters.
  • Estimates like BMR and body fat can vary by 5–10% from lab measurements.
  • Track trends over weeks rather than day-to-day changes.

Frequently asked questions

How does the heart Rate Zone Calculator work?

Max heart rate is estimated as 220 − age. We use the Karvonen method: zones are percentages of heart rate reserve (max − resting) added to your resting rate.

Is this medical advice?

No. These tools give general estimates. For medical advice, speak to your GP, pharmacist or NHS 111.

Can I use these for children?

No. Children's BMI and health measures use age- and sex-specific charts. Use the NHS healthy weight calculator for children.

Why use stone and pounds?

Many people in the UK still think in stone and pounds, so we accept those units and show metric too.

This calculator gives an estimate for general information. It isn't financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Check official figures on GOV.UK or NHS.uk, or speak to a qualified adviser.