Blood Pressure Category Checker
Type in a reading to see which American Heart Association category it falls into, plus its pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure. Save readings to a private log kept in this browser and watch the trend. Informational only — this is not a diagnosis.
Your reading
This page is for general information and does not provide medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment guidance. Categories follow the ranges published by the American Heart Association in 2017 for adults. Talk to a qualified clinician about what your readings mean for you.
How to use this calculator
1. Enter both numbers from the cuff
The larger number is systolic and goes in the top field; the smaller one is diastolic. A home monitor usually shows them as one figure over the other, with the pulse underneath in a smaller font.
2. Read the category and the derived numbers
The result box names the category the reading falls into and colours it to match the band on the gauge. Underneath you get pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure, both worked out straight from the two numbers you typed.
3. Build a log instead of judging one reading
Press "Add this reading to my log" to keep it. Once two or more readings are saved, the Trend tab draws systolic and diastolic over time, and the Log tab gives you a sortable table you can export to CSV or clear entirely. Everything stays in this browser's local storage.
Getting a reading worth logging
Measurement technique moves the numbers more than most people expect. Sit still for five minutes first, keep both feet flat on the floor and your back supported, rest the cuffed arm on a table at roughly heart height, and stay quiet during the measurement. Take two readings a minute apart at the same time of day and log both.
About blood pressure categories
Which of the two numbers decides the category?
Whichever number lands in the higher range. Under the 2017 American Heart Association ranges a reading of 125/85 is Stage 1 because the diastolic value of 85 sits in the 80–89 band, even though 125 on its own would only be Elevated. Elevated is the one category that requires both numbers to qualify: systolic 120–129 together with diastolic under 80.
What are pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure?
Pulse pressure is simply systolic minus diastolic, so a 120/80 reading has a pulse pressure of 40 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure estimates the average pressure across one heartbeat and is calculated as diastolic plus one third of the pulse pressure, which works out to about 93 mmHg for 120/80. Both are descriptive numbers derived from the reading you typed.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. This page only sorts a reading into a published category and does the arithmetic. A single measurement is not enough to establish anything on its own, and blood pressure moves with time of day, posture, stress, caffeine, cuff size, and technique. Bring your readings to a clinician for interpretation.