About PulseVital: Our Sources and How We Read a Pulse
Since 2016, PulseVital has helped people make sense of their heart rate in everyday language. Type in a number and we explain what it means for an adult, for a child of a particular age and during exercise, and when it is a good idea to see a doctor.
The references behind our ranges
- Adult resting range (60–100 bpm), bradycardia (< 60) and tachycardia (> 100): American Heart Association, "All About Heart Rate".
- Normal ranges for children by age: NIH MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), article "Pulse".
- Newborns: MedlinePlus lists 70–190 bpm. We use 100 as the lower limit in our verdicts, because in a newborn a heart rate below 100 needs prompt assessment — the 2020 American Heart Association neonatal resuscitation guidelines treat under 100 as too slow.
- 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 2020 guidelines, pediatric basic and advanced life support).
- Training zones: percentage of estimated maximum heart rate (220 − age), as used by the American College of Sports Medicine and most fitness devices. Moderate intensity as about 64–76% of maximum: ACSM position stand (2011).
From number to category
| 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 from newborn to 9 years separately, because the same number can be normal at one age and abnormal at another. The label then says whether the reading is normal at every child age, depends on the age, or is low or high for all child ages; from 10 years the adult range applies.
What a pulse number can't tell you
A heart rate is just one number. On its own it reveals nothing about whether the rhythm is regular, how well the heart pumps or what led to the reading. What you read here is general education rather than a diagnosis, and it is no stand-in for a doctor. If you notice symptoms — chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, palpitations — please get medical care; in an emergency call 911 (US) or your local emergency number.
Privacy in brief
We don't keep the heart rate you type in: the checker just opens the page for that value, and the tap tool works entirely inside your browser. You'll find the full picture in our privacy policy.
The people behind PulseVital
PulseVital is a publication of EPSILON WEBCRAFTS LLC (Lexington, KY 40507, USA). Our content is reviewed against the sources listed above, most recently on 2026-10-25. Spotted a mistake? Please let us know and we will put it right promptly.