What is the normal respiratory rate range for adults?

• A. 8-12 breaths per minute
• B. 12-20 breaths per minute
• C. 20-30 breaths per minute
• D. 14-22 breaths per minute

Answer: (B)

The main idea is identifying a normal resting breathing pace for an adult. In healthy adults at rest, breathing should be steady and of moderate speed—not slow enough to be bradypnea and not fast enough to be tachypnea. When the rate is clearly slower, it can result from sedation, certain medications, or neurological issues; when it’s clearly faster, it can reflect fever, pain, anxiety, low oxygen, or metabolic stress. Among the options, the one that describes a mid-range, comfortable resting rate best matches the typical baseline for a healthy adult. The other ranges describe conditions that are outside normal resting breathing.