Normal blood pressure by age: chart and checker
Enter your blood pressure to see which category it falls in. The healthy range is the same at every adult age: under 120/80.
Add both numbers to see your category.
Blood pressure categories for adults
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Under 120 | and | under 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and | under 80 |
| Stage 1 high | 130 to 139 | or | 80 to 89 |
| Stage 2 high | 140 or more | or | 90 or more |
| Severe | Over 180 | or | over 120 |
In mmHg, the same for every adult age. When the two numbers fall in different rows, the higher row counts. Whelton et al., ACC/AHA guideline, Hypertension, 2018; Prospective Studies Collaboration, Lancet, 2002.
Does normal blood pressure change with age?
What's typical changes, but what's healthy doesn't. Blood pressure tends to rise with age, mostly the top number, as arteries stiffen. So 135/85 is common at 60, but it carries the same extra risk it would at 40. The 2017 US guideline uses the same categories for every adult, and keeps a treatment target under 130 systolic for people over 65 too.
Why it matters
In 61 studies with a million adults, from age 40 to 69, the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke doubled with every 20 mmHg higher systolic or 10 mmHg higher diastolic. That held all the way down to 115/75, so there was no level above it that was harmless.
How to measure it at home
- Use an upper-arm cuff that fits your arm. Skip caffeine, exercise and smoking for 30 minutes before.
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat for 5 minutes, without talking.
- Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is at heart level.
- Take two readings a minute apart and average them. Do it on several days before drawing conclusions.
How to lower it
In the US guideline, each of these lowers systolic pressure by about 4 to 11 points in people with high blood pressure: eating more fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy, less salt, more potassium, regular cardio, and drinking less. Losing weight lowers it by about 1 point per kg. In stage 2, these work alongside medication, not instead of it.
Questions
What is normal blood pressure for a 60-year-old?
Under 120/80, the same as at 30. Many people in their 60s run higher, but higher still carries more risk. The US guideline counts 130/80 or more as high at every adult age.
Is 130/80 high blood pressure?
Yes. Since 2017 the US guideline counts 130/80 as stage 1 high blood pressure. Lifestyle changes come first at that level, and medication if your heart risk is high.
Which number matters more?
Both count, and the higher category wins. After about 50, the top number, systolic, predicts heart risk better.
What is low blood pressure?
Under 90/60 is usually called low. It's only a problem if it makes you dizzy or faint, which is worth telling a doctor.
Sources
- 2017 guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Whelton et al., Hypertension, 2018.
- Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data for one million adults in 61 prospective studies. Lewington et al., The Lancet, 2002.