Blood pressure ranges, explained

The two numbers

A blood pressure reading such as 128/82 has two parts. The top number (systolic) is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure between beats, when the heart rests (NHLBI). Both are measured in millimeters of mercury, written mm Hg.

Blood pressure categories for adults

CDC and NHLBI use these categories (CDC) (NHLBI):

Notice the "or" in the stage rows. Only one number has to reach a range. A reading of 125/85 is stage 1, not elevated, because the bottom number is in the stage 1 range. A reading of 142/78 is stage 2 because of the top number.

When a high reading is an emergency

CDC splits readings over 180/120 in two, by symptoms (CDC):

• No symptoms: call your healthcare professional.
• With chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or difficulty speaking: call 911. CDC calls this a hypertensive emergency.

Readings over 180/120 with any of those symptoms: call 911.

Why one reading is not enough

Blood pressure moves all day, and a clinic visit can push it up. CDC notes that as many as 1 in 3 people who have a high reading at the doctor's office may have normal readings outside it (CDC). That is why doctors look at several readings, often including home readings, before calling it high blood pressure.

The opposite also happens: high blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, so many people who have it do not know (CDC). NHLBI says about half of American adults have high blood pressure, and about 1 in 3 of them are not aware of it (NHLBI).

How to measure at home

CDC's checklist for an accurate home reading (CDC):

• Do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before, and empty your bladder.
• Sit with your back supported for at least 5 minutes first.
• Keep both feet flat on the floor and your legs uncrossed.
• Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is at chest height, on bare skin, fitting snugly.
• Do not talk during the reading.
• Take at least two readings, 1 or 2 minutes apart.

Write down the date, time and both numbers, and bring the log to your next appointment.

What the range means for your heart risk

High blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease and stroke (CDC). The 2025 AHA/ACC guideline uses more than the reading alone to decide on medicine: for stage 1 high blood pressure, a 10-year PREVENT risk of 7.5% or more is one reason to start treatment (AHA/ACC 2025). You can estimate that risk with our heart risk calculator, which uses the top number. The decision itself belongs with your clinician.

Common questions

Is 130/80 high blood pressure?

Yes. A top number of 130 to 139 or a bottom number of 80 to 89 is stage 1 high blood pressure (NHLBI), so 130/80 is stage 1 on both counts. One reading is not a diagnosis; see why above.

Is 120/80 normal?

Not quite. Normal is under 120 and under 80 (CDC). A bottom number of 80 is already in the stage 1 range, so 120/80 is stage 1 by this table, even though 120/80 was long thought of as a normal reading.

Which number matters more?

Both count, and the higher category wins. Our heart risk calculator uses the top number because that is the one the PREVENT equations were built with.

Do the ranges change with age?

The categories in the table are the same for all adults (CDC). Treatment goals can differ from person to person, which is a conversation for your clinician. See blood pressure by age for how common high blood pressure is at each age.

See also which numbers to bring to a checkup.