Estimate maximum heart rate from age, using both the classic and Tanaka formulas.
How It Works
How Max Heart Rate Calculator Works
The classic "220 minus age" formula has been the standard rule of thumb for decades, though research since has proposed refinements like the Tanaka formula (208 minus 0.7 times age), which tends to fit measured data slightly better, especially for older adults.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the two formulas give different answers?
The classic formula was based on limited early research and is known to be a rough approximation, particularly less accurate at older ages — Tanaka's formula was developed from a much larger, more recent dataset and is generally considered a modest improvement, though both remain population averages, not measurements of your actual max.
Is either formula accurate for me personally?
Individual maximum heart rate can vary meaningfully from either estimate — a supervised maximal exercise test is the only way to know your actual number precisely.
