Blood Pressure Calculator
Blood Pressure Calculator: Check Your Reading
A blood pressure calculator takes the two numbers from your monitor, systolic and diastolic, and tells you which range they fall in. This free blood pressure calculator shows your category for adults, your mean arterial pressure, your pulse pressure and a short note on what the reading means. You can also add your pulse to see whether your heart rate is in the usual resting range of 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Quick answer: a reading of 118/76 mmHg is in the normal range, with a mean arterial pressure of about 90 mmHg and a pulse pressure of 42 mmHg. A reading of 135/85 mmHg falls in stage 1 high blood pressure, with a mean arterial pressure of about 102 mmHg and a pulse pressure of 50 mmHg.
Systolic and Diastolic Pressure
Blood pressure is written as two numbers, such as 120/80, and measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The top number is systolic pressure, the force on your artery walls each time the heart beats. The bottom number is diastolic pressure, the force between beats while the heart rests. Both are used together, and your category is decided by whichever number places you in the higher range.
Blood Pressure Chart for Adults
The table below shows the ranges used by this calculator for adults. If your systolic and diastolic numbers fall in different categories, the higher category applies.
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Below 90 | or | Below 60 |
| Normal | 90 to 119 | and | 60 to 79 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and | Below 80 |
| Stage 1 high | 130 to 139 | or | 80 to 89 |
| Stage 2 high | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive crisis | Above 180 | and/or | Above 120 |
Mean Arterial Pressure and Pulse Pressure
Two extra figures can add context to a reading. Mean arterial pressure is the average pressure in your arteries across one heartbeat, and a value between about 70 and 100 mmHg is generally enough to supply the organs with blood. Pulse pressure is the gap between the top and bottom numbers.
How to Measure Blood Pressure at Home
Readings are most reliable when you are calm and rested. Sit with your back supported, feet flat and arm resting at heart level, and avoid caffeine, exercise and smoking for 30 minutes beforehand. Use a validated upper-arm monitor with a cuff that fits, take two readings a minute apart and write them down with the date and time. Tracking a few days of readings gives a clearer picture than a single result. Habits such as staying active, eating a balanced diet and keeping a healthy weight also matter, and the BMI calculator and the ideal weight calculator can help you check where you stand.
Limits and When to Get Help
This calculator is an information tool and does not diagnose any condition. The ranges apply to adults, and children, teenagers and pregnant women are assessed differently. Blood pressure changes through the day, and one reading is only a snapshot. If your readings stay above normal, or you take blood pressure medicine and your numbers change, talk to a doctor. If a reading is above 180/120 and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, a severe headache, weakness or changes in vision or speech, call emergency services immediately.
Who Can Use This Calculator?
Adults checking a home monitor reading, people keeping a blood pressure log, family members helping an older relative track readings, students learning how to read blood pressure numbers, fitness coaches, and anyone who wants a quick explanation of what their numbers mean.
How to Use This Blood Pressure Calculator
Enter your systolic pressure
This is the top number on your monitor. Type it or drag the slider.
Enter your diastolic pressure
This is the bottom number on your monitor.
Add your pulse (optional)
Enter your heart rate in beats per minute, or leave it empty.
Read your results
See your category, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and a short explanation.