Max Heart Rate Calculator

Maximum heart rate (MHR) is the upper limit of your cardiovascular system during exercise. It is used to define training zones — from easy recovery efforts to all-out exertion.

Formula
yrs

Formulas

Fox (1971)

The classic and most widely known formula.

MHR = 220 − age

Simple but less accurate, especially for older adults.

Tanaka (2001) — Recommended

A meta-analysis of over 18,000 subjects, more accurate than Fox for most adults.

MHR = 208 − (0.7 × age)

Gulati (2010)

Developed specifically from a study of 5,437 women.

MHR = 206 − (0.88 × age)

Training Zones

Once you know your max heart rate, you can set zones for different training intensities:

Zone% of MHRPurpose
Recovery50–60%Active recovery, warm-up
Fat Burn60–70%Aerobic base, fat oxidation
Aerobic70–80%Endurance, cardiovascular improvement
Anaerobic80–90%Speed, lactate threshold
Max Effort90–100%All-out, interval training

FAQ