Blood Pressure
Category
Enter a reading and see where it falls on the ACC/AHA 2017 scale. Remember: one number never diagnoses anything — blood pressure is about the pattern across many readings.
Your reading
Category
Under 120/80 — keep it up.
Categories follow the ACC/AHA 2017 guideline. A diagnosis of hypertension needs multiple readings on separate occasions, ideally including home/ambulatory measurements — not a single number. Measure seated, rested, arm supported. Educational only, not a diagnosis.
How this works
Methodology reviewed July 2026The tool maps a systolic/diastolic reading onto the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association 2017 categories. The category is set by whichever of the two numbers is more severe, so a high systolic alone is enough to move you up a band.
Normal: systolic < 120 AND diastolic < 80
Elevated: systolic 120–129 AND diastolic < 80
Stage 1: systolic 130–139 OR diastolic 80–89
Stage 2: systolic ≥ 140 OR diastolic ≥ 90
Crisis: systolic > 180 AND/OR diastolic > 120
Systolic (mmHg) · Diastolic (mmHg)
ACC/AHA category · Which reading drives it
- A category applies to a properly taken reading (seated, rested, arm supported).
- One reading never diagnoses hypertension — that needs multiple readings on separate occasions, ideally including home measurements.
- White-coat and masked hypertension mean a clinic number can mislead in either direction.
- A reading above 180 and/or 120 — especially with symptoms — is a hypertensive crisis needing urgent care, not a web page.
- Educational only; not a diagnosis.
This calculator is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results are estimates based on published formulas and population averages — your individual values may differ. Nothing here is calculated on a server: everything runs in your browser and no data is stored or sent anywhere. Always consult a qualified clinician before making health, medication, or training decisions.