Which range is commonly recommended for the target heart rate zone during aerobic exercise?

• A. 50-85%
• B. 15-45%
• C. 85-100%
• D. 30-60%

Answer: (A)

During aerobic exercise you want to work at a moderate to vigorous intensity, which is best achieved by staying in a target heart rate about half to a bit less than your maximum. The commonly recommended range is 50-85 percent of maximum heart rate. To estimate maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. For a 20-year-old, that gives roughly 100-170 beats per minute; for a 40-year-old, about 110-153 bpm. This range provides enough stimulus to improve cardiovascular fitness while staying sustainable and safe for most workouts. Lower end values (like 15-45%) are generally too easy to produce meaningful endurance gains, while very high values (85-100%) are typically too intense for extended aerobic sessions. A 30-60% range is lighter and may not maximize cardio adaptations for many workouts.