How to measure your respiratory rate

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Your respiratory rate, also called breathing rate, is the number of breaths you take a minute.

To measure your breathing rate, count the number of breaths you take in a minute while you're resting. Make sure you're not counting right after exercise or physical activity.

For the best results:

• Sit down and try to relax.
• Take your respiratory rate while sitting up in a chair or in bed.
• Measure your breathing rate by counting the number of times your chest or stomach rises over the course of one minute.
• Record this number.

It may be helpful to have someone help you with counting the breaths.