Blood pressure chart
The five adult blood pressure categories from the American Heart Association, in one chart. Systolic is the top number; diastolic is the bottom number. Both are in mmHg.
Source: American Heart Association, Understanding Blood Pressure Readings; 2025 AHA/ACC Guideline, Jones et al., Hypertension 2025.
Where does your reading fall?
Type a reading from your cuff. Nothing leaves this page.
One reading is not a diagnosis. Look at several readings over days, and talk to a clinician about your numbers.
How to read the BP chart
Pay attention to the and / or column. Normal and Elevated need both numbers in range. For Stage 1 and Stage 2, either number is enough. So the higher of your two numbers sets the category: 118/86 is Stage 1, and 142/76 is Stage 2.
Hypertensive crisis is an urgent situation, not something to log and revisit later. If your numbers are in that range, follow the emergency guidance on the AHA page and any instructions from your clinician.
Why one reading isn't enough
Blood pressure moves all day. Coffee, talking, a full bladder, crossing your legs, the wrong cuff size, or measuring right after you sit down can each push a reading across a line on the chart. That's why clinicians look at a pattern: several readings, at similar times, taken the same way.
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes, back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level.
- Take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening.
- Keep a log for at least a week before drawing conclusions.
More detail: AHA categories · keeping a home log · morning vs evening
Free tools: printable log · how to measure at home · average calculator · cuff size · visit summary
Questions about the chart
What is a normal blood pressure for adults?
On the American Heart Association adult chart, Normal is a systolic (top number) below 120 mmHg and a diastolic (bottom number) below 80 mmHg.
Is there a different BP chart by age?
The AHA adult categories use the same cutoffs for adults of every age (18 and older). Children and teens are assessed differently, using percentiles for age, sex, and height. Your clinician may set a personal target that differs from the chart.
Which number matters more, systolic or diastolic?
Both. The higher of the two decides the category. For example, 128/84 is Stage 1 because the diastolic is in the 80–89 range, even though the systolic alone would be Elevated.
Does one high reading mean I have high blood pressure?
No. Blood pressure changes through the day, and caffeine, talking, a full bladder, or a poorly fitting cuff can push a single reading up. Diagnosis is based on repeated readings over time, interpreted by a clinician. A crisis-range reading is different: follow the emergency guidance on the AHA page.
Where do these numbers come from?
The American Heart Association page "Understanding Blood Pressure Readings" and the 2025 AHA/ACC high blood pressure guideline (Jones et al., Hypertension 2025).