Heart rate 60 on an adult - what does it mean?
A resting heart rate of 60 bpm is within the normal adult range of 60–100 bpm.
Where 60 bpm sits on the adult scale
- Very low
- Low (bradycardia)
- Slightly low
- Normal
- Elevated (tachycardia)
- High
- Very high
What a resting pulse of 60 means
That is a healthy resting value. Within the normal range, lower resting rates generally go with better aerobic fitness; very fit adults often sit in the 50s or lower.
Your resting rate varies by several beats from day to day. Measure at the same time — ideally in the morning before getting up — and look at the average over a week rather than a single number.
Ranges apply to adults and children aged 10 and older, measured at rest (American Heart Association). By the numbers: at 60 bpm the heart beats about every 1.00 seconds — roughly 86,400 beats a day.
60 bpm during exercise
60 bpm is below half of the estimated maximum heart rate at every adult age, so it is a resting-range value, not an exercise intensity. During light activity most adults are already above 90 bpm.
How to get an accurate resting reading
- Sit or lie quietly for 5 minutes. No caffeine, nicotine or exercise in the 30 minutes before.
- Place two fingertips (not your thumb) on the inside of your wrist below the thumb, or gently beside your windpipe on one side of the neck.
- Count the beats for 30 seconds and double it — or count a full 60 seconds if the beat feels irregular.
- Repeat on a few mornings before getting up and use the average.
Already have the number? Check another reading or measure by tapping along on the start page.
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Nearby values
Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 60 in a child.
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.