Rowing Heart Rate Zone Calculator
The rowing heart rate zone calculator computes personalised training zones using the Karvonen method (heart rate reserve). Heart rate zones are essential for rowing training because they provide objective intensity guidance that split time alone cannot offer — the same split at different heart rates indicates different physiological states. The Karvonen formula accounts for individual fitness by using heart rate reserve (HRR = Max HR - Resting HR) rather than simple percentage of maximum heart rate. This is the method recommended by British Rowing and used by most elite rowing programmes. The five zones align with the standard rowing training classification: UT2 (Zone 2, 60-70% HRR), UT1 (Zone 3, 70-80% HRR), AT (Zone 4, 80-90% HRR), and TR/VO2 max (Zone 5, 90%+ HRR).
Heart Rate Zone Calculator
bpm
bpm
Zone 1 — Recovery50–134 bpm
Zone 2 — Aerobic134–148 bpm
Zone 3 — Tempo148–162 bpm
Zone 4 — Threshold162–176 bpm
Zone 5 — Max176–190 bpm
Calculated using the Karvonen (Heart Rate Reserve) method. HR Reserve: 140 bpm.
How This Works
Enter your resting heart rate (measured first thing in the morning) and your maximum heart rate (from a maximal test or the estimate 220 minus age). The calculator applies the Karvonen formula for each zone boundary: Target HR = Resting HR + (Max HR - Resting HR) × intensity%. It outputs five clearly defined zones with BPM ranges, the training purpose of each zone, recommended session types, and the approximate percentage of total training volume each zone should represent in a balanced rowing programme.
Formula
Zone HR = Resting HR + (Max HR - Resting HR) × Zone%, e.g. Zone 2 lower = RestHR + HRR × 0.60
Frequently Asked Questions
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Calorie Burn CalculatorEffort Score CalculatorRowing Pace CalculatorHeart Rate Zones (Rowing)Heart rate zones in rowing are five intensity bands calculated from resting and maximum heart rate, used to prescribe and monitor training intensity on the ergometer.UT2 TrainingUT2 (Utilisation Training 2) is a low-intensity aerobic rowing zone performed at 55-70% of heart rate reserve, forming the foundation of endurance training for rowers.Aerobic ThresholdThe aerobic threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactate begins to accumulate above resting levels, typically occurring at 55-70% of VO2 max in rowers.Heart Rate Training for Rowing
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