The correct chest compression rate for adults during CPR is 100–120 compressions per minute.

Quick answer

  • For an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally:
    • Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
    • Target 100–120 chest compressions per minute (roughly 2 compressions every second).
* Compression depth: about **5–6 cm (2–2.4 inches)** , allowing full recoil after each push.

Key CPR numbers for adults

  • Compression rate: 100–120 per minute.
  • Compression depth: at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm.
  • Compression-to-breath ratio (if trained and giving breaths): 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths.

Quick mental cues

  • Aim for a steady rhythm around 100–120/min rather than counting every compression.
  • Many courses teach using songs with a similar tempo (around 100–120 beats per minute) to keep pace, though exact song choice is less important than staying in that rate range.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.