Heart rate has been used for many years as a way to determine exercise intensity. While it does have its limitations it can be useful for anyone completing steady-state exercise (exercise at the same pace).

Exercise intensity is usually prescribed based on a percentage of maximum heart rate. Traditionally, maximum heart rate was determined with the simple formula 220 – age. Many Exercise Professionals believe that this underestimates maximum heart rate in certain individuals and prefer to use the Karvonen formula (also known as the “heart rate reserve formula”).

The calculator below will determine various heart rate zones, as well as a predicted maximum heart rate, using the Karvonen formula.

**HEART RATE CALCULATOR**
Step 1. Enter your age:
Step 2. Enter your resting heart rate:
Step 3. Click here…

Estimated maximum
heart rate:

**Target Heart Rate Zones (220 – Age Formula)**
50% =	75% =
55% =	80% =
60% =	85% =
65% =	90% =
70% =	95% =

**Target Heart Rate Zones (Karvonen Formula)**
50% =	75% =
55% =	80% =
60% =	85% =
65% =	90% =
70% =	95% =

Jacky Anderson

Jacky has a degree in Sports Science and is a Certified Sports and Conditioning Coach. He has also worked with clients around the world as a personal trainer.

He has been fortunate enough to work with a wide range of people from very different ends of the fitness spectrum. Through promoting positive health changes with diet and exercise, he has helped patients recover from aging-related and other otherwise debilitating diseases.

He spends most of his time these days writing fitness-related content of some form or another. He still likes to work with people on a one-to-one basis – he just doesn’t get up at 5am to see clients anymore.