READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 116 over 50 to 101

A top number of 116 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.

116 over what? The quick answer

116/50 to 79: Normal
116/80 to 89: Stage 1 hypertension
116/90 to 101: Stage 2 hypertension

Every 116 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
116/50	Normal	66	72
116/51	Normal	65	72.7
116/52	Normal	64	73.3
116/53	Normal	63	74
116/54	Normal	62	74.7
116/55	Normal	61	75.3
116/56	Normal	60	76
116/57	Normal	59	76.7
116/58	Normal	58	77.3
116/59	Normal	57	78
116/60	Normal	56	78.7
116/61	Normal	55	79.3
116/62	Normal	54	80
116/63	Normal	53	80.7
116/64	Normal	52	81.3
116/65	Normal	51	82
116/66	Normal	50	82.7
116/67	Normal	49	83.3
116/68	Normal	48	84
116/69	Normal	47	84.7
116/70	Normal	46	85.3
116/71	Normal	45	86
116/72	Normal	44	86.7
116/73	Normal	43	87.3
116/74	Normal	42	88
116/75	Normal	41	88.7
116/76	Normal	40	89.3
116/77	Normal	39	90
116/78	Normal	38	90.7
116/79	Normal	37	91.3
116/80	Stage 1	36	92
116/81	Stage 1	35	92.7
116/82	Stage 1	34	93.3
116/83	Stage 1	33	94
116/84	Stage 1	32	94.7
116/85	Stage 1	31	95.3
116/86	Stage 1	30	96
116/87	Stage 1	29	96.7
116/88	Stage 1	28	97.3
116/89	Stage 1	27	98
116/90	Stage 2	26	98.7
116/91	Stage 2	25	99.3
116/92	Stage 2	24	100
116/93	Stage 2	23	100.7
116/94	Stage 2	22	101.3
116/95	Stage 2	21	102
116/96	Stage 2	20	102.7
116/97	Stage 2	19	103.3
116/98	Stage 2	18	104
116/99	Stage 2	17	104.7
116/100	Stage 2	16	105.3
116/101	Stage 2	15	106

What to do with a 116 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 116/70 high blood pressure?

116/70 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 116/80 high blood pressure?

116/80 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.

Is 116/90 high blood pressure?

116/90 is in the Stage 2 hypertension range of the 2025 ACC/AHA chart, because the bottom number is 90 or higher. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

What is the MAP of 116/80?

About 92 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 36/3. The pulse pressure is 36.

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