BP LogBlood pressure chart (2025 ACC/AHA)
An interactive chart of the 2025 ACC/AHA blood pressure categories. Point to any top and bottom number to see its category, with a text table and why normal does not change with age.
Explore the chart
Tap or hover anywhere on the chart, use the arrow keys after selecting it, or type a reading. The top number runs up the side; the bottom number runs along the base.
- Low
- Normal
- Elevated
- Stage 1
- Stage 2
The chart as a table
| Category | Top (systolic) | Bottom (diastolic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | under 120 | and | under 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and | under 80 |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130 to 139 | or | 80 to 89 |
| Stage 2 hypertension | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Severe hypertension | higher than 180 | and/or | higher than 120 |
When the two numbers land in different rows, the higher row counts, so 118/84 is stage 1. The chart also marks a top number under 90 as Low, which is how the BP Log app flags it; the guideline itself has no low category, and low readings matter mostly when they cause symptoms.
Normal does not change with age
Many “blood pressure by age” charts online list higher normal values for older people. The guideline does not. Normal is under 120/80 for a 30-year-old and for an 80-year-old, and high blood pressure starts at 130/80 for every adult.
Those charts are usually showing averages: what is common at each age, not what is healthy. Average readings do rise with age, mostly the top number, as large arteries stiffen. That is worth knowing, but it does not move the line. Some older adults, such as those with limited life expectancy or in long-term care, may have goals set individually with their doctor. Our blood pressure chart by age guide shows the CDC averages side by side with the guideline chart.
How the chart is drawn
Every 1 mmHg square on the chart is classified by the same code the BP Log app uses, and neighboring squares with the same category are merged into the colored regions. Colors and markers match the app. For your own number, the category checker gives the same answer with a little more detail.
Common questions
What is normal blood pressure by age?
For adults, normal is under 120/80 at every age. The 2025 ACC/AHA guideline uses the same categories for all adults and does not raise them as people get older. What rises with age is the typical reading in the population, which is not the same as a healthy one.
Is 140/90 normal for older adults?
No. 140/90 is in the stage 2 range at any adult age. Many older adults have readings that high, which is why charts of average readings by age can look reassuring, but common is not the same as healthy. Treatment goals can be individualized for some older adults, which is a decision for you and your doctor.
What if my top and bottom numbers are in different colors?
The higher category counts. On the chart, that is simply the color of the region where the point lands.
What does the hatched area mean?
It marks readings higher than 180 on top and/or higher than 120 on the bottom. With symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, vision changes or trouble speaking, call 911. Without symptoms, rest, measure again, and contact your healthcare professional right away if it is still that high.
- 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: desktop, Excel and printable logs