About PulseVital
PulseVital has explained heart rate readings in plain language since 2016. You enter a number, we tell you what it means — for an adult, for a child of a specific age and during exercise — and when it is worth seeing a doctor.
Where the numbers come from
- Adult resting range (60–100 bpm), bradycardia (< 60) and tachycardia (> 100): American Heart Association.
- Normal ranges for children by age: NIH MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), article "Pulse".
- Emergency thresholds for children (heart rate below 60 with poor perfusion; above 220 in infants or 180 in children suggesting SVT): pediatric advanced life support teaching (American Heart Association).
- Training zones: percentage of estimated maximum heart rate (220 − age), as used by the American College of Sports Medicine and most fitness devices.
How a reading is classified
| Adult resting heart rate | Category on this site |
|---|---|
| below 40 bpm | Very low |
| 40–49 bpm | Low (bradycardia) |
| 50–59 bpm | Slightly low — common in fit adults |
| 60–100 bpm | Normal |
| 101–120 bpm | Elevated (tachycardia) |
| 121–150 bpm | High |
| above 150 bpm | Very high |
The split of the bradycardia and tachycardia ranges into finer steps is our own editorial choice, to give more useful guidance than "abnormal". For children we compare the reading with each age group separately, because the same number can be normal at one age and abnormal at another.
What this site cannot do
A heart rate is one number. It says nothing about whether the rhythm is regular, how well the heart pumps or what caused the reading. Our pages are general education, not a diagnosis, and they do not replace a doctor. If you have symptoms — chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, palpitations — please seek medical care; in an emergency call 911 (US) or your local emergency number.
Your privacy
The heart rate you enter is not stored by us. The checker simply opens the page for that value, and the tap tool runs entirely in your browser. Details in our privacy policy.
Who runs PulseVital
PulseVital is published by EPSILON WEBCRAFTS LLC, Lexington, KY 40507, USA, which also runs other plain-language health reference sites. Content is reviewed against the sources above; the last review was on 2026-10-25. Found an error? Tell us — we correct mistakes promptly.