Two devices, one place
What is a good resting heart rate?
Updated · 3 min read
- Steps
- Cardio
- Heart
- Sleep
Short answer
For most adults, a resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute is normal, and very fit athletes may be near 40. Check it in the morning before you get up.
For most adults, the American Heart Association calls a resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) normal, whether you read it on Apple Watch, Oura or WHOOP. It says a lower rate usually means your heart doesn't have to work as hard.
Check your resting heart rate by hand
- Check in the morning, before you get out of bed. The American Heart Association names this as a good time to check.
- Place the tips of your first two fingers, not your thumb, on the inside of your wrist, on the thumb side.
- Press lightly until you feel your pulse.
- Count the beats for 30 seconds.
- Multiply that number by 2 to get your beats per minute.
When to talk to a healthcare professional
Mayo Clinic says to talk with your healthcare professional if your resting heart rate is regularly above 100 bpm. It gives the same advice if you are not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is often below 60 bpm. It says this matters most if you also have symptoms such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.
Find your resting heart rate on each device
| Device | When it measures heart rate | What it sends to Apple Health |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch | Throughout the day, while you wear it | Heart rate, sent automatically |
| Oura | Resting heart rate every 10 minutes during the night | Heart rate in one-minute intervals |
| WHOOP | Resting heart rate during sleep | Resting heart rate |
- Apple Watch
Open the Heart Rate app on your Apple Watch. Turn the Digital Crown to Resting Rate.
- Oura
In the Oura app, open the Sleep detail view or Trends to find your resting heart rate. Oura gives two values for each night: your average and your lowest. Oura develops a personal baseline for your resting heart rate, so you can notice changes against your own readings. Resting heart rate is not on Oura's list of what it writes to Apple Health.
- WHOOP
In the WHOOP app, tap the Recovery dial. On the Recovery page, tap Resting Heart Rate. Choose the weekly, monthly or 6-month view.
- Apple Health
Open the Health app on your iPhone. Go to Browse then Heart. Tap the heart rate entry you want to see, such as resting heart rate when a device writes it. Scroll down. Tap Data Sources & Access: the list of sources that write that data type. When two sources write it, the one at the top of the list takes priority.
Why your devices show different numbers
- They measure at different times
Mayo Clinic defines resting heart rate as your heart rate while you are awake, calm and not moving. Oura measures through the night, and WHOOP measures during sleep.
- Oura uses a wider normal range
Oura's help page gives 40 to 100 bpm as the normal range for adults. The American Heart Association and Mayo Clinic give 60 to 100 bpm. The American Heart Association says an athlete or more active person may be as low as 40 bpm.
- Stress, body temperature, pain and standing up may raise it
The American Heart Association says a higher body temperature, stress, anxiety and pain may raise your heart rate. It may also go up a little when you first stand up, and settle after a few minutes.
- Readings vary by device
Mayo Clinic says wearables may not always be accurate, and that some devices are better than others.
Questions
Is a resting heart rate of 50 good?
It can be. The American Heart Association says a heart rate below 60 does not always signal a medical problem and is common for athletes. It adds that a drug such as a beta blocker or another medication can also lower it.
Why is my resting heart rate lower when I sleep?
The American Heart Association says heart rate may be lower while sleeping. WHOOP says it measures resting heart rate during sleep to minimize the influence of movement and physical activity.
Does resting heart rate change with age?
Mayo Clinic lists age among the factors that can affect heart rate, with fitness and activity levels, sleep, emotions, body type and posture, and medicine. The American Heart Association gives one normal range for most adults, 60 to 100 bpm.
Sources
- 1Target Heart Rates Chart, American Heart Associationheart.org (opens in a new tab)
- 2All About Heart Rate, American Heart Associationheart.org (opens in a new tab)
- 3Heart rate: What's normal?, Mayo Clinicmayoclinic.org (opens in a new tab)
- 4Check your heart rate on Apple Watch, Apple Supportsupport.apple.com (opens in a new tab)
- 5Intro to Health data on iPhone, Apple Supportsupport.apple.com (opens in a new tab)
- 6Manage Health data on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, Apple Supportsupport.apple.com (opens in a new tab)
- 7Resting Heart Rate, Oura Member Caresupport.ouraring.com (opens in a new tab)
- 8Apple Health Integration, Oura Member Caresupport.ouraring.com (opens in a new tab)
- 9Apple Health Integration, WHOOP Supportsupport.whoop.com (opens in a new tab)
- 10Navigating the WHOOP Mobile and Web App, WHOOP Supportsupport.whoop.com (opens in a new tab)
- 11Viewing Trends, WHOOP Supportsupport.whoop.com (opens in a new tab)
- 12Why WHOOP Uses Heart Rate Reserve, Not Max Heart Rate, WHOOPwhoop.com (opens in a new tab)