Blood pressure chart & category checker
Enter a reading to see which American Heart Association category it falls into — using the 2025 guideline. Free, private, nothing to install.
Enter both numbers from your monitor. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Your category will appear here.
Blood pressure categories chart
These are the adult categories from the American Heart Association. If your two numbers land in different rows, the higher category applies.
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | and | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and | Less than 80 |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130–139 | or | 80–89 |
| Stage 2 hypertension | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Severe hypertension | Higher than 180 | and/or | Higher than 120 |
Above 180/120 with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision changes or difficulty speaking is a hypertensive emergency — call 911.
How to get an accurate home reading
- Sit quietly for five minutes first, back supported and feet flat on the floor.
- Rest your arm on a table with the cuff at heart level, on bare skin.
- Skip caffeine, exercise and smoking for 30 minutes beforehand.
- Take two or three readings a minute apart and record them all.
- Measure at the same times each day — the AHA’s home monitoring guide has more detail.
One reading is a snapshot. What your doctor needs is the pattern, which is why a dated log matters more than any single number. See our guide to keeping a blood pressure log and what blood pressure numbers mean.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal blood pressure?
For adults, the American Heart Association defines normal blood pressure as a systolic (top) number below 120 mm Hg and a diastolic (bottom) number below 80 mm Hg.
Which number matters more, systolic or diastolic?
Either number can be used to diagnose high blood pressure. If the two fall into different categories, the higher category applies. The AHA notes that systolic pressure says more about heart-disease risk for people over 50.
What should I do if my blood pressure is over 180/120?
Wait one minute and measure again. If it is still that high and you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision changes or difficulty speaking, call 911. Without symptoms, contact your healthcare professional promptly.
Can this checker diagnose high blood pressure?
No. It shows which AHA category a single reading falls into. Only a doctor or other medical professional can diagnose high blood pressure, usually from several readings over time — which is why keeping a home log helps.
How do I keep a blood pressure log for my family?
Log each reading with the date and time, for each person, ideally at the same times each day. MedKeep keeps a separate blood pressure log for every family member, flags readings outside the normal range, and exports a PDF for appointments.
Log every reading for the whole family
MedKeep keeps a blood pressure log per family member, flags out-of-range readings and exports a PDF for the doctor. Encrypted on your device, works offline.