Heart Rate Recovery
Subtract the one-minute reading from the rate at the finish. It shows how quickly the heart hands back to the parasympathetic system, and the number grows as fitness improves.
Your numbers
Recovery drop
28bpm
Percentage
16.7%
Heart rate at finish
168bpm
What it means
Down 28 beats in a minute — brisk recovery.
Formula
Recovery drop = Heart rate at finish − Heart rate after 1 min
Standing still versus walking it off changes the figure. Use the same posture every time if you want to compare.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate at finish (bpm)Your pulse at the instant you stopped. | 168 | 60 ~ 230 |
| Heart rate after 1 min (bpm)Your pulse one minute after stopping. | 140 | 40 ~ 230 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Heart rate at finish (bpm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Heart rate at finish (bpm) | Recovery drop (bpm) | Percentage (%) | Heart rate at finish (bpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | -56 | -66.7 | 84 |
| 126 | -14 | -11.1 | 126 |
| 168 | 28 | 16.7 | 168 |
| 230 | 90 | 39.1 | 230 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Recovery drop (bpm)How far the pulse fell in that minute; larger is fitter. | 28 |
| Percentage (%)A share expressed out of 100. | 16.7 |
| Heart rate at finish (bpm)Your pulse at the instant you stopped. | 168 |
Common mistakes
Standing still versus walking it off changes the figure. Use the same posture every time if you want to compare.
Glossary
- Heart rate at finish
- Your pulse at the instant you stopped.
- Heart rate after 1 min
- Your pulse one minute after stopping.
- Recovery drop
- How far the pulse fell in that minute; larger is fitter.
- Percentage
- A share expressed out of 100.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Heart Rate Recovery calculated?
Recovery drop = Heart rate at finish − Heart rate after 1 min — Subtract the one-minute reading from the rate at the finish. It shows how quickly the heart hands back to the parasympathetic system, and the number grows as fitness improves.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Heart rate at finish 168bpm, Heart rate after 1 min 140bpm, the answer is Recovery drop 28bpm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Heart rate at finish, Heart rate after 1 min. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Heart rate at finish (bpm) moves the answer to Heart rate at finish (bpm) 84 → Recovery drop (bpm) -56 and Heart rate at finish (bpm) 230 → Recovery drop (bpm) 90. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
Standing still versus walking it off changes the figure. Use the same posture every time if you want to compare.
Related calculators
These calculators help you understand health figures; they do not replace diagnosis or prescription. See a clinician if you have symptoms.