Maximum Heart Rate and Training Zones
Your maximum heart rate (MHR) is the highest number of beats per minute your heart can achieve during maximal exercise. Training zones — expressed as percentages of MHR — allow you to target specific fitness goals efficiently.
Training Zone Benefits
- Zone 1 (50–60%): Warm-up, recovery. Very easy effort.
- Zone 2 (60–70%): Fat burning, base aerobic fitness. You can hold a conversation.
- Zone 3 (70–80%): Aerobic conditioning. Breathing is laboured; improves cardiovascular endurance.
- Zone 4 (80–90%): Anaerobic threshold. Builds speed and VO2max; hard to sustain.
- Zone 5 (90–100%): Maximum effort. Sprint intervals; only sustainable for seconds to a few minutes.
Heart Rate Reserve and the Karvonen Formula
For more personalised zones, the Karvonen formula uses heart rate reserve (HRR = MHR − resting HR). Target HR = resting HR + intensity% × HRR. Optionally enter your resting heart rate in the calculator to activate Karvonen zones.
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