What are the 5 heart rate zones?

The 5 heart rate zones are: Zone 1 (50-60% max HR) - Recovery, Zone 2 (60-70%) - Aerobic/Fat burning, Zone 3 (70-80%) - Tempo, Zone 4 (80-90%) - Threshold, Zone 5 (90-100%) - VO2 max. Each zone targets different energy systems and training adaptations.

How do I calculate my heart rate zones?

Calculate heart rate zones by first finding your max HR (220 minus age, or use a field test). Then multiply by zone percentages: Zone 1 = 50-60%, Zone 2 = 60-70%, Zone 3 = 70-80%, Zone 4 = 80-90%, Zone 5 = 90-100%. For more accuracy, use the Karvonen method with resting heart rate.

What HR zone burns the most fat?

Zone 2 (60-70% of max HR) burns the highest percentage of calories from fat. However, higher zones burn more total calories. For fat loss, a mix of Zone 2 training with some higher intensity work is most effective.

How do I set heart rate zones on Garmin?

In Garmin Connect, go to Settings > User Settings > Heart Rate Zones. Enter your max HR and resting HR. Choose between percentage of max HR or percentage of HRR (Karvonen). You can also let Garmin auto-detect zones based on your training data.

Quick Answer: 5 HR Zones: Z1 (50-60%), Z2 (60-70%), Z3 (70-80%), Z4 (80-90%), Z5 (90-100%) of max HR

Heart Rate Zone Calculator

Calculate your complete 5-zone heart rate training system. Get personalized training zones for optimal endurance development across all intensity levels.

Athlete monitoring heart rate zones during training session

Calculate Your Training Zones

Age (years) *

Your current age in years

Resting Heart Rate (optional)

For Karvonen method accuracy

Calculation Method

Choose your preferred max HR calculation

Understanding the 5 Heart Rate Training Zones

Heart rate training zones are intensity ranges based on percentages of your maximum heart rate. Each zone targets different physiological adaptations and training benefits.

Zone 1: Recovery (50-60% Max HR)

Purpose: Active recovery and easy base training
Feel: Very easy, can hold full conversations
Benefits: Promotes recovery, fat burning, aerobic base
Training: Easy runs, cool-downs, recovery rides

Zone 2: Aerobic Base (60-70% Max HR)

Purpose: Aerobic base building and fat oxidation
Feel: Comfortable, conversational pace
Benefits: Improves fat burning, mitochondrial function
Training: Long runs, base rides, most training volume

Zone 3: Aerobic (70-80% Max HR)

Purpose: Aerobic capacity development
Feel: Moderate effort, some conversation possible
Benefits: Improves aerobic power and endurance
Training: Tempo runs, steady-state efforts

Zone 4: Lactate Threshold (80-90% Max HR)

Purpose: Lactate threshold and VO2 max development
Feel: Hard effort, difficult to talk
Benefits: Improves lactate clearance and anaerobic capacity
Training: Threshold intervals, race pace efforts

Zone 5: VO2 Max (90-100% Max HR)

Purpose: Maximum aerobic power development
Feel: Very hard, cannot speak
Benefits: Improves VO2 max and anaerobic power
Training: Short intervals, all-out efforts

How to Use Your Heart Rate Zones

Use these zones to structure your training program:

80/20 Rule: Spend 80% of training time in Zones 1-2, 20% in Zones 3-5
Progressive Build: Start with more Zone 1-2, gradually add higher zones
Periodization: Vary zone emphasis based on training phase
Recovery: Use Zone 1 for active recovery days

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<\!-- FAQ Section -->

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my maximum heart rate?

The 220-minus-age formula is a rough estimate. For accuracy, perform a supervised max HR test or use the formula: 208 - (0.7 × age) for better results.

Which heart rate zone burns the most fat?

Zone 2 (60-70% max HR) burns the highest percentage of fat, but higher zones burn more total calories. For weight loss, total calorie burn matters most.

How much time should I spend in each zone?

Typical distribution: Zone 1-2: 70-80%, Zone 3: 10-15%, Zone 4: 5-10%, Zone 5: 1-5%. This builds aerobic base while developing speed and power.

Why is my heart rate high on easy runs?

Common causes: dehydration, heat, stress, fatigue, illness, or cardiac drift. Also, you may be running too fast for your current fitness level.

Should I use chest strap or wrist HR monitor?

Chest straps are more accurate, especially during intervals. Wrist monitors work well for steady-state efforts but may lag during rapid HR changes.

Complete Heart Rate Zone Training Guide

💓 Understanding Your Heart Rate Zones

Recovery

50-60% Max HR

• Active recovery
• Easy walking
• Warm-up/cool-down

Aerobic Base

60-70% Max HR

• Fat burning
• Easy conversational pace
• Base building

Aerobic

70-80% Max HR

• Steady state
• Moderate effort
• Endurance building

Threshold

80-90% Max HR

• Lactate threshold
• Comfortably hard
• Tempo training

VO2 Max

90-100% Max HR

• Maximum effort
• Interval training
• Speed development

Garmin vs Apple Watch vs Polar: Heart Rate Zone Systems Compared

Different fitness platforms use slightly different heart rate zone calculations. Here's how the major brands compare and how to set up your zones correctly.

Garmin Heart Rate Zones

Zone 1 50-60% Max HR

Zone 2 60-70% Max HR

Zone 3 70-80% Max HR

Zone 4 80-90% Max HR

Zone 5 90-100% Max HR

Setup: Garmin Connect > Device Settings > User Settings > Heart Rate Zones

Apple Watch HR Zones

Zone 1 <60% Max HR

Zone 2 60-70% Max HR

Zone 3 70-80% Max HR

Zone 4 80-90% Max HR

Zone 5 90-100% Max HR

Setup: Health App > Browse > Heart > Heart Rate Zones

Polar Heart Rate Zones

Zone 1 50-60% Max HR

Zone 2 60-70% Max HR

Zone 3 70-80% Max HR

Zone 4 80-90% Max HR

Zone 5 90-100% Max HR

Setup: Polar Flow > Settings > Physical Settings > Heart Rate

Key Differences Between Platforms

Feature	Garmin	Apple Watch	Polar
Max HR Detection	Auto + Manual	Auto-calculated	Auto + Manual
Custom Zones	Yes (5 or 7)	Limited	Yes (5)
LTHR-Based Zones	Yes	No	Yes
Real-Time Zone Alerts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Zone Time Analysis	Detailed	Basic	Detailed

How to Set Up Garmin HR Zones:

Open Garmin Connect app or website
Go to Device Settings > User Settings
Select Heart Rate Zones
Enter your max HR from this calculator
Choose "Based on % Max HR" or "Based on % HRR"
Sync to your Garmin device

Pro Tips for Accurate Zones:

Use a chest strap for max HR tests
Retest max HR every 6-12 months
Consider LTHR-based zones for serious training
Update zones if your fitness changes significantly
Use the same method on all your devices

How to Set Up Heart Rate Zones on Your Device

Use the zones from the calculator above and enter them into your watch or app. Here is exactly how to do it on each platform.

How to Set Heart Rate Zones on Garmin

Open the Garmin Connect app and tap the device icon
Navigate to Device Settings > User Settings > Heart Rate Zones
Choose "Based on Max HR" or "Based on Heart Rate Reserve" (Karvonen method)
Enter your actual max HR from a field test rather than the 220-minus-age default
Edit each zone boundary to match the values from the calculator above
Sync your device to apply the changes

Important: Garmin's factory-default zones use generic percentages that may not match your physiology. Entering a tested max HR and custom boundaries gives you far more accurate training feedback. If you know your true max heart rate, start there.

How to Set Heart Rate Zones on Apple Watch

Open the Health app on your iPhone and go to Browse > Heart > Heart Rate Zones
By default Apple Watch auto-calculates zones from your health data
To customize: open Settings > Workout > Heart Rate Zones > Manual
Enter zone boundaries that match your calculated zones from above

Limitation: Apple Watch relies on an optical wrist sensor only, which can drift by 5-10 bpm during high-intensity intervals. For threshold and VO2 max work, pair a Bluetooth chest strap for better accuracy.

How to Set Heart Rate Zones on Polar

Open Polar Flow (app or web) and go to Settings > Heart Rate Zones
Polar supports up to 5 fully configurable zones with custom boundaries
Enter zone values manually or import from a Running Index test
Optionally run Polar's Fitness Test (OwnIndex) to get a VO2 max estimate that informs zone setup

Tip: Polar's OwnIndex correlates well with lab-tested VO2 max. Combine it with your Zone 2 calculator results for a training plan grounded in real data.

How to Set Heart Rate Zones on COROS

Open the COROS app and go to Profile > Heart Rate Zones
Choose between threshold-based or max HR-based zone calculation
For threshold-based zones, enter your LTHR from a field test
Edit each zone boundary to match the values from your calculation

Note: COROS threshold-based zones are more useful for experienced athletes who have done a proper lactate threshold test. If you are unsure of your LTHR, use max HR-based zones instead.

Chest Strap vs Wrist HR: Which Is Better for Zone Training?

Accurate heart rate data is the foundation of zone training. The sensor you use determines how reliable your zone readings actually are.

Wrist Optical HR

Built into most watches

-Accuracy: +/-5-10 bpm
-Struggles in cold weather
-Less reliable on darker skin tones
-Lag during intervals
+Convenient, always on

Chest Strap

Gold standard (e.g., Garmin HRM-Pro Plus)

+Accuracy: +/-1-2 bpm
+Instant response to intensity changes
+Works in all conditions
-Can feel uncomfortable
-Extra device to charge

Arm Band

Compromise (e.g., Polar Verity Sense)

+Accuracy: +/-2-4 bpm
+More comfortable than chest
+Good for swimming
-Less accurate than chest strap
-Can slip during running

Our Recommendation

Use a chest strap for Zone 2 training, threshold workouts, and interval sessions where precision matters. Wrist HR is fine for easy runs where staying in an exact zone is less critical.

For detailed comparisons and our top picks, read our best heart rate monitors for 2026 guide, the complete heart rate monitor guide for runners, and our complete guide to running heart rate zones.

How accurate are heart rate zone calculations?

Heart rate zone accuracy depends on the method used to determine your maximum heart rate:

Age-Based Formula

220 - Age = Max HR

±10-15 bpm accuracy. Simple but less precise for individuals.

Field Test

Actual measured max HR

±2-5 bpm accuracy. More accurate but requires proper testing.

Lab Test

Professionally measured

±1-2 bpm accuracy. Most accurate but requires specialized equipment.

For best results, use our calculator with a known max HR from a recent all-out effort or fitness test.

What's the difference between Karvonen and percentage methods?

There are two main methods for calculating heart rate zones:

Percentage of Max HR Method

Simple percentage of maximum heart rate

Zone 1:50-60% Max HR

Zone 2:60-70% Max HR

Zone 3:70-80% Max HR

Zone 4:80-90% Max HR

Zone 5:90-100% Max HR

Karvonen Method (HRR)

Uses heart rate reserve for more personalized zones

Formula: (Max HR - Resting HR) × % + Resting HR

More accurate for individuals with very high or low resting heart rates.

Recommendation: Use Karvonen method if your resting HR is below 50 or above 80 bpm for more accurate zones.

How should I train in each heart rate zone?

Each heart rate zone targets different physiological adaptations and training goals:

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) - 60-70% Max HR

Training Purpose:

• Fat oxidation
• Mitochondrial development
• Aerobic base building

Workout Examples:

• 45-90 min easy runs
• Long bike rides
• Recovery sessions

Training Volume:

• 70-80% of total training
• Daily for experienced athletes
• Foundation of all training

Zone 4 (Threshold) - 80-90% Max HR

Training Purpose:

• Lactate buffering
• Metabolic efficiency
• Race pace development

Workout Examples:

• 20-40 min tempo runs
• 2×20 min intervals
• Time trial efforts

Training Volume:

• 10-15% of total training
• 1-2 sessions per week
• Key for race performance

Zone 5 (VO2 Max) - 90-100% Max HR

Training Purpose:

• VO2 max improvement
• Cardiac output
• Neuromuscular power

Workout Examples:

• 5×3 min intervals
• 8×400m repeats
• Hill repeats

Training Volume:

• 5-10% of total training
• 1 session per week
• High intensity focus

What factors affect heart rate during exercise?

Several factors can cause your heart rate to be higher or lower than expected during training:

Factors That Increase HR:

↑ Heat & humidity: +10-20 bpm in hot conditions
↑ Dehydration: +5-15 bpm when fluid depleted
↑ Altitude: +10-30 bpm above 8,000 feet
↑ Caffeine: +5-10 bpm for 2-4 hours
↑ Fatigue/stress: +5-20 bpm when overtrained
↑ Illness: +10-30 bpm during infection

Factors That Decrease HR:

↓ Cool conditions: -5-10 bpm in cold weather
↓ Good fitness: Lower HR at same effort
↓ Beta blockers: -20-40 bpm medication effect
↓ Age: Max HR decreases ~1 bpm/year
↓ Overtraining: Suppressed HR response

Training Tip: Use heart rate trends over time rather than single workout data. Consider using RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) alongside HR for more complete training intensity guidance.