Breathing Rate: Breaths per Minute Explained
Estimated from a single camera (PPG) reading — an educational estimate, not a medical measurement. State labels (Flow, Focus, Alarm…) are rough, experimental patterns, not emotion detection.
What breathing rate is
Breathing (respiratory) rate is the number of breaths you take per minute. It is one of the basic vital signs, and it is also the one you can change most easily on purpose, which is why slow breathing is used in many relaxation methods.
How this tool calculates it
Breathing slightly changes the strength of each pulse wave in your fingertip. The tool smooths the size of the pulse signal over about 5 seconds, finds the peaks of that slow wave (at least 2 seconds apart), takes the median time between them and converts it to breaths per minute. It shows a value only when it finds at least five such peaks and the result is between 6 and 30 breaths per minute; otherwise it shows nothing. Because the window is short and the effect is subtle, this is an approximate estimate.
Typical ranges
About 12–20 per minute
The usual resting range for adults.
Slower (about 6–10)
Common during deliberate slow breathing, meditation or deep rest.
Faster (above about 20 at rest)
Can come with exertion, anxiety, fever or illness. Persistently fast breathing at rest, or breathlessness, is worth checking with a doctor.
Why slow breathing is popular
Breathing slowly, often around 5.5–6 breaths per minute (individually about 4.5–7) with a relaxed, longer exhale, tends to increase the heart-rate swings that follow each breath and is associated with feeling calmer. It is a low-risk, well-studied technique. If you feel lightheaded, return to normal breathing.
Tips for a better reading
Rest your hand, keep the finger still with light pressure, breathe naturally, and give the tool at least 20–30 seconds. Talking or moving makes the estimate unreliable.
The ONDA app is a separate product: it focuses on pulse, breathing and, with an Apple Watch, coherence. It does not use the formulas on this page.
The ONDA Principle
Breathing rate here is estimated from the slow rise and fall of your pulse signal; treat it as approximate.
Ready to measure?
The ONDA app works with your iPhone camera, Apple Watch and Apple Health.