ECG Heart Rate Per Minute Calculation

Method 1, for Regular Rates Only

Count the number of whole and parts of (such as 4.5) large boxes that separate any two consecutive R waves, and divide that number into 300.

Method 2, Known as the Dubin Method, for Regular Rates Only

First, find an R wave that peaks on a heavy black line. Next, name the consecutive heavy black lines in the following manner:

       300, 150, 100, 75, 60, 50, 43

The heart rate is equal to the number named where the next R wave occurs.

Method 3, for Regular or Irregular Rates

Note standard markings on top of the ECG strip:

• Marks on every 5th heavy line indicate 1-second intervals.
• Marks on every 15th line indicate 3-second intervals.
• Marks on every 30th line indicate 6-second intervals.

Use one R wave as starting point (do not count this wave), and count all consecutive R waves in a 6-second interval. Multiply the number of R waves in a 6-second interval by 10 to determine rate.

Heart Rate Calculation Tool

NOTE: A handy duplicate of Figure 6–5 can be found inside the front cover of this book.

To use the tool, place arrow at an appropriate point on one cycle of the ECG, and measure to the corresponding point in the next cycle. Follow the line downward to read the rate.