READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 117 over 50 to 102

A top number of 117 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.

117 over what? The quick answer

117/50 to 79: Normal
117/80 to 89: Stage 1 hypertension
117/90 to 102: Stage 2 hypertension

Every 117 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
117/50	Normal	67	72.3
117/51	Normal	66	73
117/52	Normal	65	73.7
117/53	Normal	64	74.3
117/54	Normal	63	75
117/55	Normal	62	75.7
117/56	Normal	61	76.3
117/57	Normal	60	77
117/58	Normal	59	77.7
117/59	Normal	58	78.3
117/60	Normal	57	79
117/61	Normal	56	79.7
117/62	Normal	55	80.3
117/63	Normal	54	81
117/64	Normal	53	81.7
117/65	Normal	52	82.3
117/66	Normal	51	83
117/67	Normal	50	83.7
117/68	Normal	49	84.3
117/69	Normal	48	85
117/70	Normal	47	85.7
117/71	Normal	46	86.3
117/72	Normal	45	87
117/73	Normal	44	87.7
117/74	Normal	43	88.3
117/75	Normal	42	89
117/76	Normal	41	89.7
117/77	Normal	40	90.3
117/78	Normal	39	91
117/79	Normal	38	91.7
117/80	Stage 1	37	92.3
117/81	Stage 1	36	93
117/82	Stage 1	35	93.7
117/83	Stage 1	34	94.3
117/84	Stage 1	33	95
117/85	Stage 1	32	95.7
117/86	Stage 1	31	96.3
117/87	Stage 1	30	97
117/88	Stage 1	29	97.7
117/89	Stage 1	28	98.3
117/90	Stage 2	27	99
117/91	Stage 2	26	99.7
117/92	Stage 2	25	100.3
117/93	Stage 2	24	101
117/94	Stage 2	23	101.7
117/95	Stage 2	22	102.3
117/96	Stage 2	21	103
117/97	Stage 2	20	103.7
117/98	Stage 2	19	104.3
117/99	Stage 2	18	105
117/100	Stage 2	17	105.7
117/101	Stage 2	16	106.3
117/102	Stage 2	15	107

What to do with a 117 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 117/70 high blood pressure?

117/70 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 117/80 high blood pressure?

117/80 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 117/90 high blood pressure?

117/90 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 117/80?

About 92.3 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 37/3. The pulse pressure is 37.

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