Heart rate 62 on an adult - what does it mean?

Where 62 bpm sits on the adult scale

What a resting pulse of 62 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 62 bpm the heart beats about every 0.97 seconds — roughly 89,280 beats a day.

A waking pulse of 62: why mornings run slow

Many people see a number like 62 when they check their pulse just after waking. That is no coincidence. During sleep the nervous system shifts toward rest, and heart rate usually falls 10–20 bpm below the awake resting level. In the first minutes after opening your eyes, the body has not fully switched to daytime mode yet, so the reading still carries some of that overnight calm.

The early-morning value is also the cleanest one of the day. You have not eaten, had coffee, rushed anywhere or felt the pressures of work. That is why it is the reading most guides recommend as a baseline.

How 62 changes once you get up

Expect the number to climb after you leave the bed. Standing up raises heart rate by roughly 10–20 bpm for a short time while blood vessels adjust to gravity, and it then settles a little lower. A shower, breakfast, a cup of coffee and the walk to the bus or car all add more. By mid-morning, a person who woke at 62 may sit in the high 60s or 70s while seated, which is perfectly ordinary.

So if your watch shows 62 at 6 a.m. and 74 at 11 a.m., your heart has not changed. You simply measured it in two different states.

For that reason, compare morning readings only with other morning readings. If you sometimes check before rising and sometimes after breakfast, the log will look jumpy even though nothing has changed.

Reading your overnight numbers sensibly

Wearables often report a “sleeping heart rate” or “lowest heart rate” for the night. That figure is usually lower than a waking 62, sometimes in the 40s or 50s, and it is not the same as your resting rate. Comparing a night-time minimum with a daytime check will always make the daytime number look high.

A few patterns are worth noting:

• An overnight or waking value that is several beats higher than your usual one can follow alcohol, a late heavy meal, a short night or the start of an infection.
• A steady waking value over weeks is a good sign that your routine and fitness are stable.
• Waking with a racing heart, breathlessness or chest discomfort is different from a calm 62 and needs medical attention.

For tips on getting a reliable morning number, see the resting heart rate guide.

For a reliable resting value, sit quietly for five minutes first and average a few mornings: Resting Heart Rate: What It Says About Your Health. You can also measure by tapping along on the start page.

Nearby values

• 57 bpm
• 58 bpm
• 59 bpm
• 60 bpm
• 61 bpm
• 63 bpm
• 64 bpm
• 65 bpm
• 66 bpm
• 67 bpm

Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 62 in a child.

Sources: American Heart Association: All About Heart Rate · MedlinePlus: Pulse · 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.