READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 118 over 50 to 103

A top number of 118 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.

118 over what? The quick answer

118/50 to 79: Normal
118/80 to 89: Stage 1 hypertension
118/90 to 103: Stage 2 hypertension

Every 118 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
118/50	Normal	68	72.7
118/51	Normal	67	73.3
118/52	Normal	66	74
118/53	Normal	65	74.7
118/54	Normal	64	75.3
118/55	Normal	63	76
118/56	Normal	62	76.7
118/57	Normal	61	77.3
118/58	Normal	60	78
118/59	Normal	59	78.7
118/60	Normal	58	79.3
118/61	Normal	57	80
118/62	Normal	56	80.7
118/63	Normal	55	81.3
118/64	Normal	54	82
118/65	Normal	53	82.7
118/66	Normal	52	83.3
118/67	Normal	51	84
118/68	Normal	50	84.7
118/69	Normal	49	85.3
118/70	Normal	48	86
118/71	Normal	47	86.7
118/72	Normal	46	87.3
118/73	Normal	45	88
118/74	Normal	44	88.7
118/75	Normal	43	89.3
118/76	Normal	42	90
118/77	Normal	41	90.7
118/78	Normal	40	91.3
118/79	Normal	39	92
118/80	Stage 1	38	92.7
118/81	Stage 1	37	93.3
118/82	Stage 1	36	94
118/83	Stage 1	35	94.7
118/84	Stage 1	34	95.3
118/85	Stage 1	33	96
118/86	Stage 1	32	96.7
118/87	Stage 1	31	97.3
118/88	Stage 1	30	98
118/89	Stage 1	29	98.7
118/90	Stage 2	28	99.3
118/91	Stage 2	27	100
118/92	Stage 2	26	100.7
118/93	Stage 2	25	101.3
118/94	Stage 2	24	102
118/95	Stage 2	23	102.7
118/96	Stage 2	22	103.3
118/97	Stage 2	21	104
118/98	Stage 2	20	104.7
118/99	Stage 2	19	105.3
118/100	Stage 2	18	106
118/101	Stage 2	17	106.7
118/102	Stage 2	16	107.3
118/103	Stage 2	15	108

What to do with a 118 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 118/70 high blood pressure?

118/70 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 118/80 high blood pressure?

118/80 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 118/90 high blood pressure?

118/90 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 118/80?

About 92.7 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 38/3. The pulse pressure is 38.

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