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Heart Rate Zones for Age 40: Max and Target Heart Rate
At 40, your estimated maximum heart rate is about 180 beats a minute (220 − age gives 180). Moderate exercise (50–70%) is roughly 90–126 bpm. See all five zones.
Heart rate zones for exercise
Know how hard you're working when you walk, run, cycle or swim.
Estimated max heart rate
Zone 1: Very light
90–108 bpm
Easy chat, warm-up and recovery
Zone 2: Light
108–126 bpm
Comfortable, you can still talk in full sentences
Zone 3: Moderate
126–144 bpm
Breathing harder, short sentences only
Zone 4: Hard
144–162 bpm
Only a few words at a time
Zone 5: Maximum
162–180 bpm
All-out effort, only for short bursts
Using your zones
- Most weekly activity can be in zones 2–3: health guidelines suggest at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.
- Short bursts in zone 4–5 build fitness but need rest days.
- Max heart rate formulas are averages; yours can be 10–15 beats higher or lower.
✅ Rules last checked:
📚 Official sources: American Heart Association: Target heart rates · Tanaka et al. 2001: Age-predicted maximal heart rate
We build every tool from the official rules and re-check them when they change. Always confirm with the official source before you rely on a result.
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Zones at age 40
At age 40, the estimated maximum heart rate is 180 bpm with the Tanaka formula, or 180 bpm with the simpler 220 − age.
The American Heart Association says moderate exercise is about 50–70% of your maximum and vigorous exercise about 70–85%. For you, that's roughly 90–126 bpm for moderate and 126–153 bpm for vigorous.
| Zone | Feels like | Beats a minute |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Very light | Easy chat, warm-up and recovery | 90–108 |
| 2 Light | Comfortable, you can still talk in full sentences | 108–126 |
| 3 Moderate | Breathing harder, short sentences only | 126–144 |
| 4 Hard | Only a few words at a time | 144–162 |
| 5 Maximum | All-out effort, only for short bursts | 162–180 |
Based on the Tanaka formula (208 − 0.7 × age). Formulas are averages: your real maximum can be 10 to 20 beats higher or lower. Some heart and blood pressure medicines lower your heart rate, so the zones may not fit you.
Questions people ask
What's a good heart rate for exercise?+
For moderate exercise, about 50–70% of your maximum heart rate. For vigorous exercise, about 70–85% (American Heart Association).
Which formula is best?+
220 − age is the classic. The Tanaka formula (208 − 0.7 × age) is based on a larger study and fits older adults better. Both are averages.
What's the resting heart rate for?+
If you enter it, the zones use your heart-rate reserve (Karvonen method), which adjusts for your fitness. Measure it in the morning before getting up.