Breaths Per Minute Calculator
Turn a breathing cycle into breaths per minute, or a target rate into seconds per cycle.
Presets
0–20 seconds. 0 disables this phase.
0–30 seconds. 0 disables this phase.
0–30 seconds. 0 disables this phase.
0–30 seconds. 0 disables this phase.
Set a phase to 0 to turn it off. At least one phase must stay above 0.
Applies equal inhale and exhale. Holds stay off.
- Cycle
- 16 sec
- Breaths / min
- ~3.75
- Seconds / cycle from target
- 10 sec
How it works
Breaths per minute is 60 divided by the length of one cycle. A cycle is the sum of the phases you keep above zero: inhale, hold, exhale, and the hold after exhale. Set a phase to 0 to skip it. Box breathing at 4-4-4-4 is a 16-second cycle, which is 3.75 breaths per minute. Six breaths per minute is a 10-second cycle — often 5 seconds in and 5 seconds out, the same as coherent breathing.
How to do it
- Load a preset, or type inhale, hold, and exhale times in seconds.
- Read the cycle length and breaths per minute. Those numbers update as you edit.
- To start from a rate instead, enter breaths per minute and apply it as equal inhale and exhale.
- Press Start this pattern to open a matching timer, or the custom timer if nothing matches.
When people use it
People use this when they want a number — breaths per minute or seconds per cycle — before they press Start. It is arithmetic, not a medical reading. For a full session of cycles and inhale totals, use the session calculator. Comparing box and 4-7-8? See box breathing vs 4-7-8.
Pattern data
- Box breathing 4-4-4-4: cycle 16 seconds, 3.75 breaths per minute.
- Equal 4-4: cycle 8 seconds, 7.50 breaths per minute.
- Coherent 5-5: cycle 10 seconds, 6.00 breaths per minute.
- 6 breaths per minute: 10 seconds per cycle.
- 5 breaths per minute: 12 seconds per cycle.
FAQ
How do you calculate breaths per minute?
Add the phase times to get the cycle in seconds, then divide 60 by that cycle. A 16-second cycle is 3.75 breaths per minute.
How do I convert breaths per minute to seconds?
Seconds per cycle is 60 divided by breaths per minute. Six breaths per minute is 10 seconds per cycle. This calculator can split that into equal inhale and exhale.
Does this start a breathing timer?
The calculator shows the numbers. Start this pattern opens the matching technique timer, such as box breathing or the custom timer.
Is a breathing rate medical advice?
No. These numbers describe a timer pattern. They do not diagnose or treat any condition.
breathinglab.app provides informational breathing tools and does not provide medical advice.