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What is a good resting heart rate?

Want to accurately measure your heart rate? Discover how to track your numbers and which heart rates are on target.

Published: May 23, 2024 |3 minutes to read

Written by: Anastasia Climan

A person exercising outdoors in a park checks their smart watch to measure their heart statistics like heart rate, pulse, etc.

Take your pulse. The resting heart rate for most adults should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Falling outside this zone is not always a cause for concern. But you may want to talk to your health care provider if you find your numbers are above or below the normal range.1

Several factors affect heart rate, including age, medications and even emotional state.

Here are a few things to know about heart rate numbers and what steps to take to support a healthier resting heart rate.

In this article:

What is resting heart rate?

Heart rate is just what it sounds like — the pace at which a heart beats. Physicians use this measurement as a vital sign. It can help point to serious health concerns, including anxiety, heart problems or thyroid issues.2

The heart rate can fluctuate throughout the day in response to things like exercise and drinking coffee. So it’s a good idea to check it before the day starts. Resting heart rate is measured when a person is relaxed, such as before they get out of bed in the morning after a restful night’s sleep.3 (More on what is considered a normal heart rate here.)

How to measure a resting heart rate

There are a couple of ways to measure resting heart rate. You can do it manually using your fingers, counting the pulse on your elbow, neck or wrist. You can also use a digital heart rate monitor.

To take your heart rate manually, try placing your pointer and middle fingers on the underside of your wrist, just below the base of your thumb. Once you feel a pulse, start a timer for 15 seconds. Count how many times you feel a beat until the timer stops. Multiply this number by four to get the beats per minute.4

If you’re having trouble, try locating your pulse in two other easy locations. The first is on the throat, below the jawbone, just on the side of your windpipe. The second is on the inside of your elbow, slightly off-center.5 Once a pulse is located, follow the same steps as above.

Checking manually is convenient but not always the most accurate option. Instead, you may want to try a digital heart rate monitor that attaches to the tip of your finger or wraps around your chest, finger or wrist. (More on heart rate monitors here.)

Can a resting heart rate be changed?

Experts consider 60 to 100 bpm to be within the normal range.6 If a resting heart rate is too high or too low, a health care provider can help pinpoint the cause. That might mean adjusting medication or screening for underlying medical conditions. They may also recommend upping exercise levels or making other lifestyle changes to help improve numbers.

A health care provider can also help determine what’s safe for an exercise program. For most adults, it will involve gradually working up to the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.7 Tracking your heart rate can help you and your doctor see how your body responds to exercise.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.