Key facts
- Sit or lie down for five minutes first, and do not smoke or drink caffeine before checking your pulse. 1
- Count the beats for 60Â seconds, or count for 30Â seconds and double the figure. 1
- The BHF gives a normal adult resting heart rate as between 60 and 100 beats per minute. 1
- If your pulse feels irregular, check it for a full 60Â seconds and talk to your GP if you are concerned. 1
- The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if palpitations do not go away or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint. 4
Why check your pulse?
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) defines a pulse as your heart rate, the number of times your heart beats in one minute.1 Counting it by hand costs nothing and takes a couple of minutes.
A pulse check can show how fast your heart is beating at rest, and whether the beat feels steady or irregular. The BHF gives a resting rate of between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) as normal for adults.1 It is also a useful check on a smartwatch or band, which can be wrong: the BHF notes that a battery that needs replacing or very sweaty skin can make a smartwatch record inaccurately, and advises checking manually if a change looks worrying.2
For what the number means in more detail, see the guide to a normal resting heart rate. This page is about the method.
How to find your pulse at the wrist, step by step
- Sit or lie down for five minutes. Do not smoke or drink caffeine before you check.1
- Put the pads of your first and middle fingers on the inside of the wrist of your other hand, at the base of the thumb.1
- Press lightly and feel for the pulse. If you cannot feel anything, press slightly harder.1
- Once you feel it, keep feeling for 30Â seconds to notice whether it is steady or irregular.1
- Work out beats per minute by counting for 60Â seconds, or by counting for 30Â seconds and doubling the figure.1
- Check at the same time every day if you want readings you can compare.1
The neck pulse: when and how
The BHF also describes the carotid pulse in the neck. You can feel it on either side of your neck, just below the jaw and next to the windpipe, while sitting or lying down. Press gently.1
The BHF page read for this guide gives no special warning about the neck, only the instruction to press gently and a little firmer if you feel nothing.1 The wrist is usually easier to find, so start there.
How long should you count?
The BHF gives two options. Count the beats for 60Â seconds, or count for 30Â seconds and double the result.1 A second BHF page describes the same idea as placing two fingers on your wrist and counting the pulses for a minute.2
A worked example
Say you count 38 beats in 30 seconds. Doubling gives 38 × 2 = 76 bpm. That is inside the 60 to 100 range the BHF gives for adults.1 The numbers here are invented to show the arithmetic.
Now think about how much an uncounted beat matters. If you miss one beat in a 30Â second count, the result changes by 2Â bpm after doubling. If you miss one beat in a 60Â second count, it changes by 1Â bpm. That is one reason the full minute is the safer choice when you want the most exact figure, and the BHF asks for a full 60Â seconds if the pulse feels irregular.1
Counting for 30Â seconds first has another use. It shows whether the beat is steady or irregular before you decide how long to count.1
When is a good time for a resting reading?
The BHF does not name a time of day. What it does say is to check your pulse at the same time every day, after sitting or lying down for five minutes, and without smoking or caffeine beforehand.1 The NHS lists lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine among common causes of palpitations,4 so a reading after a bad night or a strong coffee may not represent your usual rate.
A seven-day record sheet
The sheet below is our own suggestion for keeping a log. The sourced parts are the same time each day, five minutes of rest and no caffeine or smoking beforehand.1
| Day | Time | Posture | Count | Beats per minute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Same time daily | Seated, after 5 minutes | 30 s × 2 | Write it here | Poor night, coffee, illness? |
| Day 2 to 6 | Same time daily | Same posture | Same method | Write it here | Anything unusual |
| Day 7 | Same time daily | Same posture | Same method | Write it here | Compare with the week’s average |
Layout is ours, not from a health source. To get a baseline, add the seven readings and divide by seven.
As an invented illustration, readings of 70, 72, 74, 71, 73, 72 and 72 add up to 504, and 504 ÷ 7 = 72 bpm.
What is a normal result, and what is not?
The BHF says you should have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100Â bpm. A missed beat here and there is nothing to worry about, but check with your GP if you are unsure.1
| What you find | What the BHF says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 60 to 100Â bpm, steady | The normal resting range for adults.1 | Note it as your baseline. |
| Under 60Â bpm | Can be normal for very fit people, in sleep, or on beta blockers.1 | See your GP if you also feel faint, very tired or dizzy, or have fainted.1 |
| Fast, for no obvious reason or at rest | Worth having checked.1 | It is important to see your GP.1 |
| Irregular | Could be a sign of an arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation, which is more likely at 65 or older.1 | Check for a full 60Â seconds and talk to your GP if concerned.1 |
Wording follows the BHF page read on 2026-10-16. Ranges apply to adults only.
Wrist band versus your fingers
Wrist-worn monitors use light sensors to measure blood flow in the wrist. Chest straps measure the heart’s electrical activity and are generally the most accurate type. Wrist devices are easier to use but may be less accurate during certain activities.3
The BHF also says a heart rate monitor is only a guide and cannot diagnose a heart problem. Readings can differ for reasons unrelated to the heart, such as how tightly the device fits, movement, sweat, temperature or lighting.3
| Method | Use | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingers at the wrist | No equipment; count 30Â s and double, or 60Â s | Needs five minutes of rest and a steady count | BHF1 |
| Fingers at the neck | Possible if the wrist is hard to find | Press gently, then a little firmer if nothing is felt | BHF1 |
| Wrist band or watch | Convenient through the day | May be less accurate in some activities; fit, sweat, battery needing replacement | BHF32 |
| Chest strap | Generally the most accurate type | Not described further in the sources read | BHF3 |
No source read gave a figure for how far a wrist band differs from a finger count, so none is given.
If a band and your finger count disagree by a lot, count again after another five minutes of rest.
When to speak to your GP, call 111 or call 999
A pulse check is a simple home test. It cannot tell you why your heart rate is what it is. The NHS and BHF advise the following.
- See a GP if your pulse is consistently fast, or irregular, or slow with feeling faint, very tired or dizzy, or if palpitations keep coming back, happen more often or last longer than a few minutes.14
- If palpitations have stopped but came with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment, call 111 or use 111 online.4 Contact NHS 111 for difficulty breathing, and also for heart palpitations.5 Call 999 for severe difficulty breathing, such as gasping, choking or being unable to get words out.5
- Call 999 or go to A&E if palpitations do not go away, or come with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or fainting. Do not drive to A&E: ask someone to drive you or call 999.4
In a medical emergency in the United Kingdom, call 999. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take my pulse?
Sit or lie down for five minutes without smoking or caffeine, put two fingertips on the inside of the wrist at the base of the thumb, press lightly and count the beats for 60Â seconds, or for 30Â seconds and double it.
Where is my pulse?
The BHF describes two places: the inside of the wrist at the base of the thumb, and either side of the neck just below the jaw and next to the windpipe.
How long should I count my pulse for?
Count for 60Â seconds, or for 30Â seconds and double it. If the pulse feels irregular, the BHF says to count for a full 60Â seconds.
What is a normal pulse for an adult?
The BHF gives a normal resting heart rate of between 60 and 100 beats per minute for adults. Some people are outside that range, for example very fit people.
What time of day is best to check?
The BHF does not name a time of day. It says to check at the same time every day, after five minutes of sitting or lying down, and before any smoking or caffeine.
Is resting heart rate the same as pulse?
The BHF defines a pulse as your heart rate, the number of times your heart beats in one minute. A resting heart rate is that count taken after you have rested.
When should I call 999 about my heartbeat?
The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if palpitations do not go away, or if they come with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or fainting. If those have stopped, ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment or call 111.
Sources
- British Heart Foundation, How to check your pulse (published 18 October 2024), British Heart Foundation. Retrieved 16 October 2026
- British Heart Foundation, What should my heart rate be when I exercise? (published 11 June 2025), British Heart Foundation. Retrieved 16 October 2026
- British Heart Foundation, Do I need a heart rate monitor? (updated 4 June 2026), British Heart Foundation. Retrieved 16 October 2026
- NHS, Heart palpitations (last reviewed 17 March 2026), NHS. Retrieved 16 October 2026
- NHS, Shortness of breath (last reviewed 30 January 2024), NHS. Retrieved 16 October 2026