Enter your systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) reading in mmHg to see its category and two related numbers.
systolic − diastolic; mean arterial pressure is diastolic + (systolic − diastolic) ÷ 3. This is a category lookup, not a diagnosis.
A single reading can vary a lot with time of day, activity, caffeine, stress, and how it was measured — a proper diagnosis needs multiple readings over time from a doctor or a validated home monitor. This tool is for general reference only, not a diagnosis. If your reading is very high or you feel unwell, seek medical care.
Category thresholds: 2017 ACC/AHA Guideline for High Blood Pressure in Adults. Pulse pressure and MAP are shown as typical reference ranges — there is no official tiered category system for either.
The full AHA classification table, for reference.
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | and | Below 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and | Below 80 |
| Hypertension Stage 1 | 130–139 | or | 80–89 |
| Hypertension Stage 2 | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive Crisis | Above 180 | and/or | Above 120 |
Blood pressure readings are classified using AHA-style adult categories, based on whichever of your systolic or diastolic number falls into the more severe category — normal is under 120 systolic and under 80 diastolic, elevated is 120-129 systolic with diastolic still under 80, followed by Stage 1, Stage 2, and hypertensive crisis categories at progressively higher readings.
Pulse pressure is simply systolic − diastolic — the difference between the two numbers, which reflects the force your heart generates with each beat relative to the pressure your arteries maintain between beats.
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is calculated as diastolic + (systolic − diastolic) ÷ 3, an estimate of your average arterial pressure across a full cardiac cycle. This is purely a category lookup and calculation based on the numbers you enter, not a diagnosis — blood pressure interpretation should always involve a healthcare professional, especially given how much a single reading can vary with time of day, activity, and measurement technique.
No — it applies standard AHA-style category labels to the numbers you enter, for informational purposes only. Blood pressure interpretation should always involve a healthcare professional, who can account for your full medical history and take multiple readings over time.
Because either number being elevated matters for classification — if your systolic reading falls in Stage 1 range but your diastolic is in Stage 2 range, the more severe category (Stage 2) applies, since either elevated number is clinically relevant.
It's the difference between your systolic and diastolic readings, reflecting the force generated by your heart with each beat. Both unusually narrow and unusually wide pulse pressure can be worth discussing with a healthcare professional as part of a fuller assessment.
MAP estimates your average arterial pressure across a full heartbeat cycle, weighted toward diastolic pressure since your heart spends more time in that resting phase. It's a metric sometimes used in clinical settings, rather than something typically tracked in everyday home blood pressure monitoring.