READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 104 over 50 to 89

A top number of 104 is in the Normal range. The bottom number decides the rest: under 80 stays Normal, 80 to 89 is Stage 1, and 90 or higher is Stage 2.

Reviewed by Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD, MPH, FACC, board-certified cardiologist. Categories follow the 2025 ACC/AHA guideline for adults.

104 over what? The quick answer

104/50 to 79: Normal
104/80 to 89: Stage 1 hypertension

Every 104 reading

Pulse pressure is the top number minus the bottom number. MAP (mean arterial pressure) is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure.

Reading	Category	Pulse pressure	MAP
104/50	Normal	54	68
104/51	Normal	53	68.7
104/52	Normal	52	69.3
104/53	Normal	51	70
104/54	Normal	50	70.7
104/55	Normal	49	71.3
104/56	Normal	48	72
104/57	Normal	47	72.7
104/58	Normal	46	73.3
104/59	Normal	45	74
104/60	Normal	44	74.7
104/61	Normal	43	75.3
104/62	Normal	42	76
104/63	Normal	41	76.7
104/64	Normal	40	77.3
104/65	Normal	39	78
104/66	Normal	38	78.7
104/67	Normal	37	79.3
104/68	Normal	36	80
104/69	Normal	35	80.7
104/70	Normal	34	81.3
104/71	Normal	33	82
104/72	Normal	32	82.7
104/73	Normal	31	83.3
104/74	Normal	30	84
104/75	Normal	29	84.7
104/76	Normal	28	85.3
104/77	Normal	27	86
104/78	Normal	26	86.7
104/79	Normal	25	87.3
104/80	Stage 1	24	88
104/81	Stage 1	23	88.7
104/82	Stage 1	22	89.3
104/83	Stage 1	21	90
104/84	Stage 1	20	90.7
104/85	Stage 1	19	91.3
104/86	Stage 1	18	92
104/87	Stage 1	17	92.7
104/88	Stage 1	16	93.3
104/89	Stage 1	15	94

What to do with a 104 reading

Keep checking now and then, the same way each time. Your category comes from the average of many home readings, so one number tells you less than a week of them.

With a bottom number of 80 or higher, the reading is at or above 130/80. In that case: sit quietly for 5 minutes and take two readings a minute apart. If home readings average in this range over a week, share them with your doctor, who will look at them alongside your overall heart risk.

Readings move from minute to minute, and the first one usually runs a few points higher. The home measuring guide covers how to get a reading you can trust, and the 7-day home average turns a week of readings into the number your doctor uses. To check any reading, use the category checker.

Common questions

Is 104/70 high blood pressure?

104/70 is in the Normal range of the 2025 ACC/AHA chart, with a top number under 120 and a bottom number under 80. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

Is 104/80 high blood pressure?

104/80 is in the Stage 1 hypertension range of the 2025 ACC/AHA chart, because the bottom number is 80 to 89. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

What is the MAP of 104/80?

About 88 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 24/3. The pulse pressure is 24.

This page is educational and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Categories describe numbers for adults; they are not a diagnosis, and they are not a substitute for care from your own doctor.

SOURCES

Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (Circulation, 2025): Blood pressure categories (normal under 120/80, elevated 120 to 129 and under 80, stage 1 130 to 139 or 80 to 89, stage 2 140 or 90 and higher); the higher category counts when the two numbers disagree; severe hypertension above 180/120; PREVENT for risk estimation
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings (American Heart Association, reviewed August 14, 2025): Category chart for adults; severe hypertension and hypertensive emergency rows; call 911 above 180/120 with symptoms

Track this automatically with BP Log.

The free iPhone app times two readings a minute apart, averages them, keeps your morning and evening numbers apart, and builds a report for your doctor.

Other ways to track: printable log now, desktop and Excel coming soon