Blood Pressure Checker
Enter your systolic and diastolic numbers to see your ACC/AHA blood pressure category instantly.
Use your most recent reading. The top number is systolic, the bottom is diastolic.
Enter both numbers to see your category
Enter a valid number greater than 0
Your reading
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Pulse pressure: —
This reading is on the low side (below 90/60 mmHg). If you feel dizzy, faint, or unwell, contact a doctor.
Diastolic (bottom number) is usually lower than systolic (top number) — double-check your reading.
These numbers are far outside a typical blood pressure reading — double-check what you entered.
Educational information only — not a medical diagnosis. Blood pressure varies through the day, and one reading isn't the whole picture. Always follow your doctor's guidance.
All calculations run in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server.
Blood pressure categories (ACC/AHA)
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | Less than 80 |
| Hypertension Stage 1 | 130–139 | 80–89 |
| Hypertension Stage 2 | 140 or higher | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive Crisis | Higher than 180 | Higher than 120 |
What the two numbers actually mean
A blood pressure reading is written as two numbers, systolic over diastolic, like 120/80 mmHg. The systolic number (the top one) is the pressure in your arteries at the moment your heart contracts and pushes blood out. The diastolic number (the bottom one) is the pressure between beats, while the heart relaxes and refills. Both numbers matter on their own — either one alone can push a reading into a higher category — which is why this checker looks at both instead of averaging them or reporting only one.
How the ACC/AHA categories are assigned
The 2017 American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association guideline sets five categories using both numbers together. The rule that decides your overall category is simple: whichever number lands in the higher category wins. A systolic reading of 145 mmHg with a diastolic of 70 mmHg is Stage 2, driven entirely by the systolic side, even though 70 by itself would be a normal diastolic reading. This is also why a single number in isolation — "is 85 a good diastolic?" — doesn't have a complete answer without its partner.
Three worked examples
Example 1 — a textbook-normal reading. 118/76 mmHg. Systolic 118 is under 120, and diastolic 76 is under 80 — both numbers sit in the Normal band, so the overall category is Normal.
Example 2 — systolic creeping up alone. 128/74 mmHg. Systolic 128 falls in the 120–129 Elevated range while diastolic 74 is still under 80, so this reading is Elevated — often the earliest sign that blood pressure is trending upward, well before it reaches Stage 1.
Example 3 — the 130/85 case. Systolic 130 sits exactly at the Stage 1 threshold, and diastolic 85 is inside the 80–89 Stage 1 range too — both numbers agree, so 130/85 mmHg is Hypertension Stage 1.
Example 4 — a crisis-range reading. 190/122 mmHg. Systolic 190 is above 180 and diastolic 122 is above 120 — either one alone would be enough — so this is a Hypertensive Crisis reading that calls for prompt medical attention, and emergency care if it comes with symptoms like chest pain or vision changes.
Getting a reading you can trust
Home cuffs are only as accurate as the conditions they're used in. A few small habits remove most of the noise:
- Rest first. Sit quietly with your back supported and feet flat on the floor for about five minutes before measuring — walking in and cuffing up immediately tends to read high.
- Arm at heart level. Rest your arm on a table rather than letting it hang or holding it up unsupported; a low or high arm can shift the reading several points either way.
- Right cuff, bare skin. A cuff that's too small reads artificially high, and measuring over a sleeve adds more error than most people expect.
- Stay quiet. Talking, a full bladder, crossed legs, caffeine, and exercise in the prior 30 minutes can all nudge numbers upward temporarily.
- Average a couple of readings. Take two or three readings a minute apart and use the average — the first reading in a sitting often runs slightly higher than the ones that follow.
What this checker can't tell you
Sorting a reading into a category is only part of the picture. Blood pressure varies naturally through the day, rises with stress, pain, or a full bladder, and can differ from a clinic reading (a pattern doctors call "white-coat hypertension") or hide above-normal numbers that only show up outside the clinic ("masked hypertension"). Overall cardiovascular risk also depends on cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, smoking status, family history, and other factors this checker doesn't ask about. A pattern of readings over days or weeks — not one number — is what a clinician actually uses to diagnose hypertension and decide on treatment, so use this tool to understand a single reading, and bring the pattern to your doctor for the full assessment.
Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the ACC/AHA blood pressure categories, and is 130/85 mmHg high blood pressure?
The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) define five categories: Normal (below 120/80 mmHg), Elevated (systolic 120–129 with diastolic below 80), Hypertension Stage 1 (systolic 130–139 or diastolic 80–89), Hypertension Stage 2 (systolic 140 or higher, or diastolic 90 or higher), and Hypertensive Crisis (systolic above 180 and/or diastolic above 120). Whichever number — systolic or diastolic — falls into the higher category sets your overall category. A reading of 130/85 mmHg falls into Hypertension Stage 1: the systolic number (130) sits at the Stage 1 threshold, and the diastolic number (85) is also within the Stage 1 range (80–89). So yes, 130/85 counts as high blood pressure under current guidelines, though a single reading isn't a diagnosis — repeated elevated readings over time are what usually prompt a doctor to confirm hypertension.
What counts as normal blood pressure, and does the normal range change with age?
For most healthy adults, a normal blood pressure reading is below 120 mmHg systolic and below 80 mmHg diastolic. The ACC/AHA guidelines don't set a different normal threshold by age — the same 120/80 mmHg cutoff applies at 25 or at 65. What does change with age is how common higher readings become: blood pressure tends to rise gradually over a lifetime as arteries stiffen, so a larger share of older adults land in the elevated or hypertension categories even though the definition of normal itself stays fixed. Children and teenagers are assessed on separate percentile-based charts rather than fixed adult numbers, so a pediatrician's guidance applies there instead of this checker.
My reading is in the hypertensive crisis range (over 180/120) — what should I do?
A systolic reading above 180 mmHg and/or a diastolic reading above 120 mmHg is classified as a hypertensive crisis and needs prompt medical attention. If you also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache, call emergency services immediately — these can signal organ damage in progress. With no other symptoms, contact your doctor right away or go to urgent care rather than waiting for a routine appointment, since the reading should be rechecked promptly. Sit quietly and remeasure after a few minutes first, since anxiety, a full bladder, or a poorly fitted cuff can temporarily push a reading unusually high — but never ignore a number that stays this high.
How do I get an accurate blood pressure reading at home?
A few habits make home readings far more reliable: sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor for five minutes beforehand, rest your arm on a table so the cuff sits at heart level, and skip caffeine, exercise, or smoking for 30 minutes before measuring. Use a properly sized cuff against bare skin rather than over clothing, stay still, and avoid talking during the reading. Because blood pressure naturally fluctuates through the day, take two or three readings a minute apart and use the average, and measure at a similar time each day — many doctors suggest once in the morning and once in the evening — for a trend that means more than any single number.
Is this blood pressure checker a diagnosis, and is my data sent anywhere?
No to both. This tool only sorts the two numbers you enter into the standard ACC/AHA categories — it can't measure your blood pressure and doesn't replace a diagnosis from a doctor, who weighs your history, other risk factors, and readings taken over time. All calculations run entirely in your browser; the systolic and diastolic numbers you type are never uploaded to a server or stored anywhere outside your own device. If your readings stay elevated or you're ever unsure what a number means, talk to a healthcare professional.