Resting heart rate by age: is yours good?

Enter your resting heart rate and see how it compares with US national data for your age and sex.

Add your details to see where you stand.

Resting heart rate by age, in bpm (fitter to the left)

Women
Age	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
20 to 29	89	82	74	66	60
30 to 39	88	81	73	66	60
40 to 49	87	80	72	65	59
50 to 59	86	79	71	64	59
60 to 69	86	78	70	64	59
70 to 79	86	78	70	64	59

Men
Age	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
20 to 29	84	76	69	61	55
30 to 39	84	76	69	61	55
40 to 49	85	77	68	61	55
50 to 59	85	77	68	61	55
60 to 69	84	76	67	60	54
70 to 79	85	76	67	60	54

Columns are percentiles of fitness, so the 50th is average and the 90th is better than 9 in 10 people that age. NHANES 1999 to 2008, Ostchega et al., National Health Statistics Reports no. 41, 2011.

What's a normal resting heart rate?

Most adults sit between 60 and 80 beats per minute, and the US national survey behind these tables found a median around 70. Lower usually means a fitter heart, which pumps more blood per beat. Athletes often sit in the 40s and 50s.

Why it matters

A meta-analysis of studies with over a million people found that every 10 beats per minute higher resting heart rate was linked to a 9% higher risk of death. Cardio training lowers it, often by several beats within a few months.

Questions

What is a good resting heart rate?

Under 60 is good for most adults, and under 50 is common in people who train a lot. Above 90 at rest is worth mentioning to a doctor.

How do I measure my resting heart rate?

Use your watch's resting heart rate, or count your pulse for 60 seconds after sitting quietly for 5 minutes, ideally in the morning.

Sources

Resting pulse rate reference data for children, adolescents, and adults: United States, 1999 to 2008. Ostchega et al., National Health Statistics Reports no. 41, 2011.
Resting heart rate and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population: a meta-analysis. Zhang et al., CMAJ, 2016.