CalcTray

Blood Pressure Calculator

Enter your systolic and diastolic readings to classify your blood pressure under AHA/ACC 2017 or ESC/ESH 2018 guidelines and compute Pulse Pressure and Mean Arterial Pressure.

Not sure which to pick? Use AHA/ACC 2017 if you're in the US or saw it on a recent US doctor's report. Use ESC/ESH 2018 if you're outside the US or comparing against European guidelines.

Upper number (70–250)

Lower number (40–150)

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Blood Pressure Calculator Formula

Pulse Pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure:

PP = Systolic − Diastolic

PP = Pulse Pressure (mmHg). Integer result from integer inputs.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) is the weighted average of systolic and diastolic:

MAP = Diastolic + (1/3 × PP) = (2/3 × Diastolic) + (1/3 × Systolic)

MAP = Mean Arterial Pressure (mmHg), rounded to 1 decimal place.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your Systolic (upper) blood pressure reading in mmHg — must be between 70 and 250.
  2. Enter your Diastolic (lower) blood pressure reading in mmHg — must be between 40 and 150 and less than systolic.
  3. Select a clinical guideline: AHA/ACC 2017 (American Heart Association, US standard) or ESC/ESH 2018 (European Society of Cardiology, international standard). AHA/ACC 2017 is the default.
  4. Click Calculate to see your BP category, Pulse Pressure, MAP, and gauge position.
  5. Switch the guideline toggle at any time to compare AHA/ACC 2017 and ESC/ESH 2018 classifications without re-submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between AHA/ACC 2017 and ESC/ESH 2018 guidelines?

AHA/ACC 2017 (American Heart Association) uses five categories — Normal, Elevated, Stage 1 Hypertension, Stage 2 Hypertension, and Hypertensive Crisis — and sets the Stage 1 threshold at 130/80 mmHg. ESC/ESH 2018 (European Society of Cardiology) uses six categories — Optimal, Normal, High Normal, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 Hypertension — and sets the Grade 1 threshold at 140/90 mmHg. As a result, AHA/ACC 2017 classifies more people as hypertensive at lower values. Use our BMI calculator for additional health screening.

What is Pulse Pressure and why does it matter?

Pulse Pressure (PP) is simply systolic minus diastolic. A wide pulse pressure (above ~60 mmHg) can indicate arterial stiffness or other cardiovascular conditions. A narrow pulse pressure (below ~25 mmHg) may suggest low stroke volume. Normal PP is typically 40 mmHg.

What is Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)?

MAP is the average pressure in your arteries during one cardiac cycle. It is calculated as diastolic plus one-third of pulse pressure. A MAP above 60 mmHg is generally considered necessary to perfuse organs. A MAP above 100 mmHg may signal hypertension requiring attention. See our BMR calculator if you are also monitoring metabolic health.

Why does the category change when I switch the guideline toggle?

AHA/ACC 2017 and ESC/ESH 2018 use different threshold boundaries and category structures. The same reading may fall in different categories depending on which guideline you apply. This calculator always computes both in the background and switches the displayed result and gauge when you toggle the guideline.

Why does the higher reading determine my category?

Clinical practice follows the rule that whichever reading (systolic or diastolic) produces the higher BP category governs the diagnosis. For example, a reading of 125/82 mmHg under AHA/ACC 2017 is Stage 1 Hypertension — the diastolic of 82 (in the 80–89 range) pushes it to Stage 1, even though systolic 125 would only suggest Elevated on its own.

Is this tool a substitute for medical advice?

No. This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for interpretation of your blood pressure readings and any health decisions.

Further Reading

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