All calculators·Blood pressure category checker

Blood pressure category checker

Where a systolic and diastolic reading falls on the WHO / ESH scale

Your reading

Bands follow WHO / European guidance. This is not a diagnosis.

The higher of the two decides

If systolic and diastolic land in different bands, the category is the higher one. A reading of 145/85 is grade 1 hypertension on the systolic number alone, even though the lower figure is fine.

One reading is not a diagnosis

Blood pressure moves through the day and rises with stress, caffeine, cold and a full bladder. Being in a clinic raises it in a good number of people. Diagnosis rests on repeated measurements across several days, often at home, and never on a single number.

Guidelines disagree about the threshold

The bands here follow the WHO and European guidance. American guidance since 2017 sets hypertension at 130/80, so a reading this page calls high-normal would be called stage 1 there. Neither is wrong; they draw the line at different places on the same continuous risk.

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Frequently asked questions

Q. How should I measure it properly?

Seated with your back supported, feet flat, arm at heart height, after five minutes of quiet — and not within half an hour of caffeine, smoking or exercise. Take two readings a minute apart and use the average.

Q. Which arm?

The first time, both — a persistent difference between arms is itself worth mentioning to a doctor. After that, use whichever read higher.

Q. What does a very low reading mean?

On its own, often nothing. Low blood pressure only matters if it comes with dizziness, faintness or fatigue. If it does, that is worth a conversation with a doctor rather than a calculator.