Normal Resting Heart Rate by Age
The normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 bpm, and this range applies to all adult ages. In childhood, values are much higher and drop as the child grows. Unlike maximum HR, resting HR barely changes with age in adulthood — what influences it most is your physical fitness.
Resting HR chart by age
| Age | Resting HR (bpm) |
|---|---|
| Newborn (0 to 1 month) | 70 to 190 |
| Infant (1 to 11 months) | 80 to 160 |
| 1 to 2 years | 80 to 130 |
| 3 to 4 years | 80 to 120 |
| 5 to 6 years | 75 to 115 |
| 7 to 9 years | 70 to 110 |
| 10 years and older, including adults and seniors | 60 to 100 |
Note where the adult range starts: 10 years, not 15. MedlinePlus publishes no separate teenage band, and it applies the same 60-to-100 range to seniors — resting HR is one of the few vital signs that does not get its own older-adult table.
Fitness matters more than age
Among adults, where you sit inside the normal range tracks your aerobic fitness far more than your age. The one number MedlinePlus attaches to this is the trained end: well-trained athletes run 40 to 60 bpm, below the general floor, and that is considered normal for them rather than a finding.
Improving your fitness tends to lower your resting HR over the weeks — it’s one of the simplest signs of progress in aerobic training.
How to measure correctly
Measure lying down, right after waking up, before getting up and before coffee or your phone. Count your beats for 60 seconds (or for 30 and multiply by 2). Repeat over three or four mornings and use the average: a single day can be off due to a poor night’s sleep, stress, or the previous day’s caffeine.
When the value deserves attention
In adults, a resting HR persistently above 100 bpm or below 50 bpm (without being an athlete), especially with dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fainting, calls for medical evaluation. In children, changes outside the age range together with high fever or listlessness call for a pediatrician. This content is informational and does not replace medical evaluation.
See the full heart rate by age chart and the difference between resting and maximum HR.
Frequently asked questions
What is the normal resting heart rate by age?
Newborns: 70 to 190 bpm; children: between 70 and 160 depending on age; from age 10 on, including adults and seniors: 60 to 100 bpm. In adulthood, the range doesn't change with age — what influences it most is fitness level.
Does an adult's resting HR change with age?
Very little. The healthy range (60 to 100 bpm) applies to all adult ages. Unlike maximum HR, resting HR responds more to physical activity level than to age itself.
What is the ideal resting heart rate?
Between 60 and 100 bpm is normal; values of 60 to 70 are common in healthy people, and 40 to 60 in athletes. A lower resting heart rate usually indicates an efficient heart and good fitness.
Sources
- Target Heart Rates Chart (American Heart Association)
- Pulse — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.)
Written by Lucas Silva · Reviewed by Lucas Silva · Updated on August 13, 2026