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Blood pressure category checker

Short answer

Adult blood pressure is normal below 120/80 mm Hg, elevated at 120–129 systolic with diastolic below 80, stage 1 hypertension at 130–139 or 80–89, and stage 2 at 140 or 90 and above. When the two numbers land in different categories, the higher one counts, so 128/82 is stage 1 hypertension. A single reading is a snapshot; the guideline classifies on an average.

Last reviewed 28 October 20262 published sourcesNot medical advice

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Blood pressure category checker

Enter a reading from a home or clinic cuff. Add a second reading if you took one; the guideline classifies blood pressure on an average.

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Enter your systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) numbers.

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Adult blood pressure categories (mm Hg)
CategorySystolic / diastolic
NormalBelow 120 and below 80
Elevated120–129 and below 80
Stage 1 hypertension130–139 or 80–89
Stage 2 hypertension140 or higher, or 90 or higher
Hypertensive crisis rangeAbove 180 and/or above 120
From the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, kept in the 2025 AHA/ACC update. If the two numbers fall in different categories, the higher category applies.

Where the categories come from

The 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guideline set four adult categories: normal (below 120/80), elevated (120–129 and below 80), stage 1 hypertension (130–139 or 80–89) and stage 2 hypertension (140 or 90 and above). It classifies on the average of two or more careful readings on two or more occasions, and treats readings above 180 and/or 120 as a hypertensive crisis (Whelton et al., 2018 (ACC/AHA)).

The 2025 AHA/ACC update kept the same categories (Jones et al., 2025 (AHA/ACC)).

Getting a reading you can trust

Sit quietly for five minutes with your back supported, feet flat and arm resting at heart height, and use a cuff that fits your upper arm. Avoid caffeine, exercise and smoking for 30 minutes beforehand, then take two readings one to two minutes apart and enter both (Whelton et al., 2018 (ACC/AHA)).

Regular aerobic exercise is one of the lifestyle steps the guideline recommends. Check how your week adds up with the exercise minutes calculator, and keep salt in view with the salt to sodium converter.

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Common questions

What is a normal blood pressure?

Under the ACC/AHA guideline, normal adult blood pressure is a systolic (top) number below 120 mm Hg and a diastolic (bottom) number below 80 mm Hg.

Which number matters more, the top or the bottom?

Both count. The category is set by whichever number is higher on the chart, so 118/84 is stage 1 hypertension because of the diastolic number, even though the systolic number is normal.

Does one high reading mean I have high blood pressure?

No. The guideline bases categories on the average of two or more careful readings taken on two or more occasions, and only a clinician can diagnose hypertension. Readings vary with stress, caffeine, exercise and cuff size.

What blood pressure is an emergency?

The guideline describes readings above 180 systolic and/or 120 diastolic as a hypertensive crisis. Recheck after a few minutes' rest; if it stays that high, get medical care straight away, and call emergency services if you have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

Sources

Figures on this page were checked against these publications on 28 October 2026.

  1. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension. 2018;71(6):e13–e115. doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065
  2. Jones DW, Ferdinand KC, Taler SJ, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension. 2025;82(10):e212–e316. doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000249

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