Blood Pressure Chart by Age — AHA Category Reference Tool

Last reviewed: April 2026

This blood pressure reference tool classifies your systolic and diastolic readings using the American Heart Association (AHA) 2017 guidelines — the most widely used standard for blood pressure categorization in the United States. Enter your systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) readings to instantly see your category: Normal, Elevated, High Blood Pressure Stage 1, High Blood Pressure Stage 2, or Hypertensive Crisis. The tool also includes a full reference table of all categories with their numeric ranges, a color-coded gauge visualization, and a personal reading log that stores up to 10 entries locally on your device. Blood pressure readings can vary throughout the day based on activity, stress, caffeine, and other factors — a single reading is rarely enough for a clinical diagnosis. Always discuss your readings with your healthcare provider.

Enter Your Blood Pressure Reading

Enter systolic between 60–250 mmHg.
/
Enter diastolic between 40–150 mmHg.
mmHg

🔒 Your numbers stay in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.

—/—
—
—
Blood Pressure Spectrum (Systolic Reading)
90120130140160180+
NormalElevatedStage 1Stage 2Crisis
⚠ Hypertensive Crisis — Seek Immediate Medical Attention
A reading in this range requires immediate evaluation by a healthcare professional. If you are also experiencing chest pain, severe headache, shortness of breath, vision changes, or numbness, call emergency services (911) immediately. Do not wait.

AHA Blood Pressure Categories — Full Reference Table

Category Systolic Diastolic What it means
Normal Less than 120 and Less than 80 Healthy range. Maintain with regular activity and balanced diet.
Elevated 120 – 129 and Less than 80 Likely to develop high BP without lifestyle changes. No medication typically needed yet.
High BP Stage 1 130 – 139 or 80 – 89 Doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and possibly medication based on cardiovascular risk.
High BP Stage 2 140 or higher or 90 or higher Doctor likely to prescribe medication and recommend lifestyle changes. Consult your doctor promptly.
Hypertensive Crisis Higher than 180 and/or Higher than 120 Seek immediate medical attention. If experiencing symptoms, call 911.

Source: American Heart Association, 2017 Hypertension Guidelines. Note: Categories are for adults age 18+. Children and adolescents use different reference values.

Personal Reading Log

💾 Saved locally on your device only — never transmitted to any server (localStorage)

DateReadingCategoryNote
No readings logged yet. Add your first reading above.
⚕ Reference Only: Blood pressure categories shown are based on AHA 2017 guidelines for adult screening purposes. A single reading is not sufficient for diagnosis. Blood pressure varies throughout the day. For proper evaluation, hypertension diagnosis, or treatment decisions, please consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.

Tools that may help with blood pressure monitoring:

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no cost to you.

Sources & Methodology

Classification used: 2017 American Heart Association (AHA) / American College of Cardiology (ACC) High Blood Pressure Clinical Practice Guidelines. Categories: Normal (<120/<80) · Elevated (120–129/<80) · Hypertension Stage 1 (130–139 or 80–89) · Hypertension Stage 2 (≥140 or ≥90) · Hypertensive Crisis (>180 and/or >120).
Sources: Whelton PK, et al. (2018). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Hypertension. 71(6):1269–1324. A single home reading cannot diagnose hypertension — clinical diagnosis requires multiple readings over time with a validated device.

Last reviewed: April 2026