BP LogBlood pressure 138 over 50 to 110
A top number of 138 is in the Stage 1 range on its own. A bottom number of 90 or higher moves the reading up to Stage 2.
138 over what? The quick answer
- 138/50 to 89: Stage 1 hypertension
- 138/90 to 110: Stage 2 hypertension
Every 138 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 138/50 | Stage 1 | 88 | 79.3 |
| 138/51 | Stage 1 | 87 | 80 |
| 138/52 | Stage 1 | 86 | 80.7 |
| 138/53 | Stage 1 | 85 | 81.3 |
| 138/54 | Stage 1 | 84 | 82 |
| 138/55 | Stage 1 | 83 | 82.7 |
| 138/56 | Stage 1 | 82 | 83.3 |
| 138/57 | Stage 1 | 81 | 84 |
| 138/58 | Stage 1 | 80 | 84.7 |
| 138/59 | Stage 1 | 79 | 85.3 |
| 138/60 | Stage 1 | 78 | 86 |
| 138/61 | Stage 1 | 77 | 86.7 |
| 138/62 | Stage 1 | 76 | 87.3 |
| 138/63 | Stage 1 | 75 | 88 |
| 138/64 | Stage 1 | 74 | 88.7 |
| 138/65 | Stage 1 | 73 | 89.3 |
| 138/66 | Stage 1 | 72 | 90 |
| 138/67 | Stage 1 | 71 | 90.7 |
| 138/68 | Stage 1 | 70 | 91.3 |
| 138/69 | Stage 1 | 69 | 92 |
| 138/70 | Stage 1 | 68 | 92.7 |
| 138/71 | Stage 1 | 67 | 93.3 |
| 138/72 | Stage 1 | 66 | 94 |
| 138/73 | Stage 1 | 65 | 94.7 |
| 138/74 | Stage 1 | 64 | 95.3 |
| 138/75 | Stage 1 | 63 | 96 |
| 138/76 | Stage 1 | 62 | 96.7 |
| 138/77 | Stage 1 | 61 | 97.3 |
| 138/78 | Stage 1 | 60 | 98 |
| 138/79 | Stage 1 | 59 | 98.7 |
| 138/80 | Stage 1 | 58 | 99.3 |
| 138/81 | Stage 1 | 57 | 100 |
| 138/82 | Stage 1 | 56 | 100.7 |
| 138/83 | Stage 1 | 55 | 101.3 |
| 138/84 | Stage 1 | 54 | 102 |
| 138/85 | Stage 1 | 53 | 102.7 |
| 138/86 | Stage 1 | 52 | 103.3 |
| 138/87 | Stage 1 | 51 | 104 |
| 138/88 | Stage 1 | 50 | 104.7 |
| 138/89 | Stage 1 | 49 | 105.3 |
| 138/90 | Stage 2 | 48 | 106 |
| 138/91 | Stage 2 | 47 | 106.7 |
| 138/92 | Stage 2 | 46 | 107.3 |
| 138/93 | Stage 2 | 45 | 108 |
| 138/94 | Stage 2 | 44 | 108.7 |
| 138/95 | Stage 2 | 43 | 109.3 |
| 138/96 | Stage 2 | 42 | 110 |
| 138/97 | Stage 2 | 41 | 110.7 |
| 138/98 | Stage 2 | 40 | 111.3 |
| 138/99 | Stage 2 | 39 | 112 |
| 138/100 | Stage 2 | 38 | 112.7 |
| 138/101 | Stage 2 | 37 | 113.3 |
| 138/102 | Stage 2 | 36 | 114 |
| 138/103 | Stage 2 | 35 | 114.7 |
| 138/104 | Stage 2 | 34 | 115.3 |
| 138/105 | Stage 2 | 33 | 116 |
| 138/106 | Stage 2 | 32 | 116.7 |
| 138/107 | Stage 2 | 31 | 117.3 |
| 138/108 | Stage 2 | 30 | 118 |
| 138/109 | Stage 2 | 29 | 118.7 |
| 138/110 | Stage 2 | 28 | 119.3 |
What to do with a 138 reading
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 138/70 high blood pressure?
138/70 is in the Stage 1 hypertension range of the 2025 ACC/AHA chart, because the top number is 130 to 139. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.
Is 138/80 high blood pressure?
138/80 is in the Stage 1 hypertension range of the 2025 ACC/AHA chart, because the top number is 130 to 139. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.
Is 138/90 high blood pressure?
138/90 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 138/80?
About 99.3 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 58/3. The pulse pressure is 58.
- 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
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