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Blood Pressure Calculator
Enter a blood pressure reading to see which category it falls in under the 2017 American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association guideline. The calculator also works out mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure from the same two numbers.
- Mean arterial pressure
- 90 mmHg
- Pulse pressure
- 42 mmHg
Saved setups
Save a set of inputs you reuse — your usual rate, your loan, your room sizes — and load it back in one tap.
Your recent calculations
Results you calculate here are kept on this device so you can come back to them.
Formula
How to use it
- Enter the systolic pressure — the top, larger number.
- Enter the diastolic pressure — the bottom number.
- Read the category, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure.
Worked examples
A reading of 118 over 76
- ACC/AHA category
- Normal
- Mean arterial pressure
- 90 mmHg
- Pulse pressure
- 42 mmHg
A reading of 135 over 85
- ACC/AHA category
- Stage 1 hypertension range
- Mean arterial pressure
- 101.7 mmHg
- Pulse pressure
- 50 mmHg
A reading of 124 over 78
- ACC/AHA category
- Elevated
- Mean arterial pressure
- 93.3 mmHg
- Pulse pressure
- 46 mmHg
The 2017 ACC/AHA categories for adults
Normal: systolic under 120 and diastolic under 80. Elevated: systolic 120–129 and diastolic under 80. Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130–139 or diastolic 80–89. Stage 2 hypertension: systolic 140 or higher or diastolic 90 or higher. When the two numbers fall in different bands, the higher band applies.
The American Heart Association advises contacting a health professional promptly about readings above 180 systolic or 120 diastolic, and calling emergency services if such a reading comes with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or changes in vision or speech. Guidelines in other countries draw the lines differently; in Europe, for example, hypertension is generally defined from 140/90.
One reading is not a diagnosis
Blood pressure moves constantly with activity, stress, caffeine and even talking. Categories are meant to be applied to the average of several readings taken on separate occasions, seated and rested for five minutes, with the cuff on a bare arm at heart level. This page classifies the numbers you enter; it cannot tell you whether you have high blood pressure.
This is an estimate for general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified clinician before making health decisions based on it.
Questions people ask
Is 120 over 80 normal blood pressure?
Under the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, 120/80 falls in the stage 1 band because the diastolic number is 80. Normal is below 120 and below 80; for example, 118/76 is normal.
How do I calculate mean arterial pressure?
Add one third of the difference between the two numbers to the diastolic. For 120/80: 80 + (120 − 80) ÷ 3 = 93.3 mmHg.
What is pulse pressure?
The systolic number minus the diastolic number. A reading of 120/80 has a pulse pressure of 40 mmHg.