Heart rate 277 - good or bad?
It depends on who was measured and what they were doing. Here is the short answer for 277 beats per minute:
Adult at rest
Very highA heart rate of 277 bpm is above any expected maximum heart rate, even during the hardest exercise. Check the reading first (devices can miscount); if it is real, it needs urgent medical care.
Adult details →Child at rest
High for all child agesA heart rate of 277 bpm is above the normal resting range for every age group under 10. In a calm child it needs prompt medical assessment; crying, fever and activity can push the pulse this high only briefly. A resting rate above 180 in an older child or above 220 in a baby, especially if it started suddenly, needs urgent care.
Child details →Who was measured?
Why the answer changes with age
Small hearts pump less blood per beat, so they have to beat faster. A newborn's normal resting pulse can be anywhere from 100 to 190 bpm (MedlinePlus lists 70–190, but in a newborn a rate below 100 needs prompt assessment); by age 10 it settles into the adult range of 60–100 bpm. A pulse of 150 can be perfectly normal for a three-month-old and worrying in an adult at rest. The same rule holds across mammals: a mouse's heart beats around 500 times a minute, an elephant's about 30.
277 bpm during exercise
This table compares 277 bpm with the common estimate of maximum heart rate (220 minus age). Individual maximums can differ by 10–20 bpm.
277 bpm is above the estimated maximum heart rate at every age in the table. It is above any expected maximum, even during the hardest exercise.
| Age | Est. max (220 − age) | 277 bpm is | Training zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 200 bpm | 139% of max | above estimated max |
| 30 | 190 bpm | 146% of max | above estimated max |
| 40 | 180 bpm | 154% of max | above estimated max |
| 50 | 170 bpm | 163% of max | above estimated max |
| 60 | 160 bpm | 173% of max | above estimated max |
| 70 | 150 bpm | 185% of max | above estimated max |
How the zones work: Heart Rate Zones: The 5 Training Zones by Age.
Check another reading
Nearby values
Sources: American Heart Association: All About Heart Rate · MedlinePlus: Pulse · AHA 2020 guidelines, neonatal resuscitation · ACSM position stand on exercise intensity (2011)
This page explains a single reading in general terms. It is not a diagnosis. Heart rate alone cannot tell whether the rhythm is regular or whether the heart is healthy — if you are worried, talk to a doctor.