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Fat Burning Zone

Calculate heart rate zones for fat burn. 60–70% max HR, Karvonen method, Zone Finder. Myth debunked: HIIT > steady state for fat loss. Achten & Jeukendrup 2004.

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❤️60–70% MHR

Zone Finder — Real-time HR zone feedback

Preset Scenarios

Max HR formula
fat_burn_zone_results
$ Max HR: 185 bpm
  Optimal Fat Burn: 137–149 bpm
Recovery: 125–137 bpm
Fat Burn: 137–149 bpm
Aerobic: 149–161 bpm
Threshold: 161–173 bpm
Max: 173–185 bpm
Max HR
185
Fat Burn Min
137
Fat Burn Max
149
Zones
5

Screenshot summary: Max HR, fat burn zone (60–70% MHR), all 5 zones with BPM ranges. Share your zones on social.

For educational and informational purposes only. Verify with a qualified professional.

Answer Capsule: Fat burning zone = 60–70% of max HR. Max fat oxidation at ~64% VO2max (Achten & Jeukendrup 2004). Myth debunked: higher intensity burns more TOTAL calories and often more fat calories. HIIT > steady state for fat loss.

📋 Key Takeaways

  • • Max HR: 220 − age (Haskell) or 208 − 0.7×age (Tanaka)
  • • Fat Burn Zone: 60–70% of max HR
  • • Karvonen: Target HR = ((MaxHR − RHR) × %intensity) + RHR
  • • HIIT often more effective for fat loss than steady-state

💡 Did You Know?

📊Higher intensity burns more TOTAL calories and often more fat calories too
⚠️The "fat burning zone" myth persists despite evidence
HIIT is more effective for fat loss than steady-state
📈Max fat oxidation occurs at ~64% VO2max (Achten & Jeukendrup 2004)
❤️Zone 2 (60–70% MHR) is where fat % of fuel is highest

📖 How It Works

Fat burn zone: 60–70% of max HR. At this intensity, a higher % of calories come from fat. But total fat burned can be higher at higher intensity.
Karvonen method: Uses resting HR for more personalized zones. Target = RHR + (MaxHR − RHR) × %intensity.
Myth vs reality: Steady-state "fat zone" burns more fat % but less total. HIIT burns more total calories and often more fat.
Zone Finder: Real-time feedback as you adjust age and resting HR. Animated heart icon pulses with zone intensity for visual feedback.

🎯 Expert Tips

Zone 2 for base

Build aerobic base in Zone 2. Good for recovery and endurance.

HIIT for fat loss

Don't fear higher intensity. HIIT often beats steady-state for fat loss.

Use Karvonen

Resting HR improves zone accuracy.

Tanaka for 40+

208 − 0.7×age often more accurate for older adults.

📊 Comparison Table

Zone% Max HR35yo (max 185)
Recovery50–60%93–111 bpm
Fat Burn60–70%111–130 bpm
Aerobic70–80%130–148 bpm
Threshold80–90%148–167 bpm
Max90–100%167–185 bpm

📈 Infographic Stats

60–70%
MHR fat zone
64%
VO2max peak fat
Myth
debunked
HIIT
> steady state

⚠️ Disclaimer: Zone estimates use population formulas. Individual variation exists. HIIT may not be suitable for everyone. Consult a professional for personalized advice.

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