Blood Pressure Category Checker
How it works
The category is read off the American Heart Association's adult blood pressure table, checked from the most severe category down: Hypertensive Crisis first, then Stage 2, Stage 1, Elevated, and finally Normal. Checking in that order — rather than the other way round — is what makes whichever number is more elevated the one that decides the result, since a single high reading on either number is enough to raise the category even if the other number looks fine.
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Under 120 | and | Under 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and | Under 80 |
| High Blood Pressure (Stage 1) | 130–139 | or | 80–89 |
| High Blood Pressure (Stage 2) | 140+ | or | 90+ |
| Hypertensive Crisis | Over 180 | or | Over 120 |
This is an informational estimate, not a diagnosis. A single reading — especially one taken at home — can be affected by many things, and hypertension is diagnosed from a pattern of readings taken correctly over time, by a professional.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact category boundaries?
Normal: systolic under 120 and diastolic under 80. Elevated: systolic 120–129 with diastolic under 80. Stage 1: systolic 130–139 or diastolic 80–89. Stage 2: systolic 140+ or diastolic 90+. Hypertensive Crisis: systolic over 180 or diastolic over 120. These are the American Heart Association's own numbers, so you can check this tool's answer against them directly.
Why do I need both numbers — can’t one alone tell me the category?
Either number can push you into a higher category on its own. The category is set by whichever of the two — systolic or diastolic — is more elevated relative to its own threshold, so a normal systolic with a high diastolic (or the reverse) still lands in the higher category, not the lower one.
Does one reading mean I have high blood pressure?
No. Blood pressure naturally varies through the day with activity, stress, caffeine, and even how you’re sitting when it’s measured. A clinical diagnosis of hypertension is based on multiple readings over time, taken properly, and interpreted by a professional — not on a single number.