What is my max heart rate?
Enter your age to estimate your maximum heart rate. Pick the formula for the headline; the other equations are listed for comparison.
- Your max heart rate
- 180
At age 40, the formula 220 − age (Fox) gives a maximum heart rate of 180 beats per minute.
- 220 − age (Fox)
- 180
- 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka)
- 180
- 207 − 0.7 × age (Gellish)
- 179
- 211 − 0.64 × age (Nes)
- 185
- 206 − 0.88 × age (Gulati, women)
- 171
Your max heart rate: 180. At age 40, the formula 220 − age (Fox) gives a maximum heart rate of 180 beats per minute.
Your max heart rate by age
This calculator gives general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor or other health care provider. Talk with a professional about your results. Terms of use
How to calculate
Estimates the maximum heart rate for an age with five published equations: 220 − age (Fox), Tanaka, Gellish, Nes, and Gulati for women.
Example with the default inputs (Age 40, Formula 220 − age (Fox)): At age 40, the formula 220 − age (Fox) gives a maximum heart rate of 180 beats per minute.
Method: Maximum heart rate = a − b × age, in beats per minute: 220 − age (Fox), 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka), 207 − 0.7 × age (Gellish), 211 − 0.64 × age (Nes), 206 − 0.88 × age (Gulati, women).
- Each equation is a population average for healthy people. A person’s measured maximum can differ by 10 beats per minute or more (Nes 2013 reports a standard error of 10.8).
- The equations were fitted on adults. Gulati’s equation was fitted on women only.
- The estimate is for information. It is not medical advice and not a safe exercise limit.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Age 50, Formula 220 − age (Fox) gives Your max heart rate 170, 220 − age (Fox) 170.Source: CDC, Target Heart Rate and Estimated Maximum Heart Rate: 220 − 50 years = 170 beats per minute
- Age 40, Formula 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka) gives Your max heart rate 180, 220 − age (Fox) 180, 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka) 180, 207 − 0.7 × age (Gellish) 179, 211 − 0.64 × age (Nes) 185.4, 206 − 0.88 × age (Gulati, women) 170.8.Source: hand calculation in content.mdx from the published equations: Tanaka 2001 (208 − 0.7 × 40), Gellish 2007 (207 − 0.7 × 40), Nes 2013 (211 − 0.64 × 40), Gulati 2010 (206 − 0.88 × 40)
- Age 60, Formula 206 − 0.88 × age (Gulati, women) gives Your max heart rate 153.2.Source: Gulati and others (2010), Circulation 122:130: peak heart rate = 206 − 0.88 × age; 206 − 52.8 = 153.2
- Age 25, Formula 211 − 0.64 × age (Nes) gives Your max heart rate 195, 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka) 190.5.Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: Nes 2013, 211 − 0.64 × 25 = 195; Tanaka 2001, 208 − 17.5 = 190.5
How max heart rate is estimated
Each equation is a straight line: maximum heart rate (beats per minute) = a − b × age, with age in whole years.
- 220 − age (Fox, Naughton and Haskell, 1971). The CDC uses it.
- 208 − 0.7 × age (Tanaka, Monahan and Seals, 2001), from a meta-analysis of 351 studies and a laboratory study of 514 healthy adults.
- 207 − 0.7 × age (Gellish and others, 2007), from repeated treadmill tests of the same 132 people over 25 years.
- 211 − 0.64 × age (Nes and others, 2013), from 3,320 healthy adults in the HUNT fitness study.
- 206 − 0.88 × age (Gulati and others, 2010), the average peak heart rate of 5,437 women.
The calculator shows every equation for your age, and the one you pick as the headline. Values are not rounded in the calculation; the page shows whole beats per minute.
Assumptions
- The equations describe averages for healthy people. Your own maximum can be 10 or more beats per minute higher or lower.
- They were fitted on adults, so the calculator takes ages 15 to 100.
- Medicines such as beta blockers lower the heart rate response, so these estimates do not apply to people taking them.
This page is for information only. It is not medical advice. Talk with a health care professional before you start hard exercise, especially if you have a heart condition.
Worked examples by hand
Age 50, 220 − age. 220 − 50 = 170 beats per minute, the CDC's own example.
Age 40, every formula. 220 − 40 = 180. Tanaka: 208 − 0.7 × 40 = 208 − 28 = 180. Gellish: 207 − 28 = 179. Nes: 211 − 0.64 × 40 = 211 − 25.6 = 185.4. Gulati: 206 − 0.88 × 40 = 206 − 35.2 = 170.8.
Age 60, Gulati. 206 − 0.88 × 60 = 206 − 52.8 = 153.2 beats per minute.
Age 25, Nes. 211 − 0.64 × 25 = 211 − 16 = 195. Tanaka gives 208 − 17.5 = 190.5.
Other questions people ask
How do I calculate my maximum heart rate?
Subtract your age from 220. At age 40, that is 220 − 40 = 180 beats per minute. This is the estimate the CDC uses. Newer equations change the slope: Tanaka's 208 − 0.7 × age also gives 180 at age 40, but gives higher values than 220 − age after about age 40.
Which max heart rate formula is the most accurate?
None is exact for one person. In large studies, 220 − age underestimates the maximum of older adults. Tanaka and others (2001), from 351 studies and 18,712 people, found 208 − 0.7 × age. The HUNT study (Nes and others, 2013) found 211 − 0.64 × age, with a standard error of 10.8 beats per minute, so a person's true maximum is often 10 beats or more away from any formula.
Is max heart rate different for women?
Gulati and others (2010) studied 5,437 women and found an average peak heart rate of 206 − 0.88 × age. That is lower than 220 − age at every adult age: about 12 beats lower at age 20 and 7 beats lower at age 60. Tanaka (2001) and Nes (2013) found no real difference between men and women in their equations.
Can I measure my real maximum heart rate?
Yes, with a maximal exercise test, usually on a treadmill or bike under supervision. Do not try to reach your maximum on your own if you have a heart condition, take heart-rate medicines, or have not been cleared for hard exercise.
What do I use my max heart rate for?
To set exercise intensity. The CDC's moderate zone is 64% to 76% of your maximum, and its vigorous zone is 77% to 93%. The target heart rate calculator works those zones out for your age.
Does a higher max heart rate mean I am fitter?
No. Maximum heart rate depends mostly on age. Tanaka (2001) found that habitual activity did not change the equation. Fitness shows more in a lower resting heart rate and a faster recovery.