Blood pressure chart checker — which category is my reading in?

How to use the blood pressure classifier

1. Enter the Systolic (top number) in mmHg.
2. Enter the Diastolic (bottom number) in mmHg.
3. Optionally enter your Pulse.
4. Read the Category, your Reading, the Pulse pressure and, if entered, your Pulse. The table marks your row with “◀ here”.

What it does and when to use it

Home blood pressure monitors give two numbers but rarely explain them. This classifier places a reading in the adult categories used by the American Heart Association, which follow the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline:

It is a quick way to understand a reading, to prepare questions for a doctor’s appointment, or to keep a log of home readings in plain language. It does not diagnose anything. Other health tools on the site include the blood sugar converter for glucose readings, the BMI calculator, and the heart rate zone calculator for exercise.

How it works

The classifier checks the reading from the most severe category down and stops at the first match:

1. Systolic above 180 or diastolic above 120: hypertensive crisis range.
2. Systolic 140 or more, or diastolic 90 or more: stage 2.
3. Systolic 130 or more, or diastolic 80 or more: stage 1.
4. Systolic 120 or more (with diastolic below 80): elevated.
5. Otherwise: normal.

Because it checks from the top, the higher category always wins. Pulse pressure is systolic minus diastolic. If the diastolic number is equal to or above the systolic, the tool asks you to check the reading instead of classifying it.

Worked examples

These figures come from the classifier’s own function.

128/78. Category: Elevated. Pulse pressure 50 mmHg. The systolic is in the 120–129 band and the diastolic is below 80.

118/85. Category: High blood pressure stage 1. The systolic alone would be normal, but a diastolic of 85 falls in the 80–89 band.

185/95. Category: Severe — hypertensive crisis range. A warning appears first, advising you to wait a few minutes, measure again and contact a doctor straight away if it stays this high, or call emergency services if you have symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness.

Limits and tips

• Adults only. These categories are for adults; a clinician assesses children’s readings differently.
• Measure the same way each time, following your monitor’s instructions and any advice from your doctor, so readings can be compared.
• Pregnancy and existing conditions need a clinician’s own targets.
• Not a diagnosis. Only a healthcare professional can diagnose high blood pressure or decide on treatment.
• Readings you enter stay in your browser.