What Is a Normal Blood Pressure Range?
Last updated: July 2026
For adults, normal blood pressure is a reading below 120/80 mmHg — a systolic pressure under 120 and a diastolic pressure under 80. Readings consistently at or above 130/80 fall into hypertension under US guidelines, while very low readings (below about 90/60) count as hypotension.
That's the short answer. The longer answer is that blood pressure is a moving target: it changes through the day and reacts to stress, sleep, caffeine, and even a full bladder. Understanding the range — and measuring properly — matters more than any single number.
What the two numbers mean
Systolic pressure (the top number) is the force in your arteries at the moment your heart contracts and pushes blood out. Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is the force between beats, while the heart refills. Both are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
A reading of 118/76 means your arteries see a peak pressure of 118 mmHg with each beat and stay at 76 mmHg between beats. Your pulse — how many times the heart beats per minute — is a separate measurement, even though most monitors show all three together.
The normal range at a glance
| Reading (mmHg) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below 90/60 | Low — often harmless if you feel well; see a doctor if you get symptoms |
| Below 120/80 | Normal — the healthy target range for adults |
| 120–129 / below 80 | Elevated — not hypertension yet, but trending the wrong way |
| 130/80 or higher | Hypertension — confirm with repeated home readings and talk to your doctor |
| Above 180/120 | Crisis — re-measure; if still this high or you have symptoms, seek emergency care |
Note the boundary difference between guidelines: US guidelines define hypertension from 130/80 mmHg, European guidelines from 140/90 mmHg. The full breakdown, including averages by age group, is in our blood pressure chart by age.
Why your reading is different every time
Healthy blood pressure isn't a fixed value — variation is normal. Common reasons your numbers move:
- Time of day. Blood pressure typically dips overnight, surges in the early morning, and drifts down through the evening.
- Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Each can raise readings for 30 minutes or more — avoid them before measuring.
- Stress and the setting. Many people read 10–20 mmHg higher in a clinic than at home, a pattern called white coat hypertension.
- Body position and technique. An unsupported back, crossed legs, a dangling arm, or talking during the measurement can each add several mmHg. Our measurement guide covers the correct setup.
- Recent meals, exercise, and a full bladder all nudge readings too.
Because of this variability, clinicians care about your average over days or weeks — one high reading after a stressful commute doesn't define you.
When to talk to a doctor
See your doctor if home readings average 130/80 mmHg or higher over a week, if your readings are rising steadily over months, or if low readings come with dizziness or fainting. Go sooner if you're pregnant, diabetic, or have kidney or heart disease — target ranges can be tighter.
Bring data, not anecdotes: a week of structured home readings is one of the most useful things you can hand a clinician. A blood pressure log — on paper or in an app — turns "my pressure feels high lately" into something a doctor can act on.
Frequently asked questions
Is 120/80 a normal blood pressure?
It's right on the boundary. Under US guidelines, normal is *below* 120/80 — a systolic of exactly 120 counts as "elevated." In practice, 120/80 is nothing to worry about on its own; it's simply worth keeping an eye on your average.
Is 110/70 too low?
No — 110/70 is a healthy reading well inside the normal range. Readings only count as low below about 90/60 mmHg, and even then they usually matter only if you have symptoms like dizziness or fainting.
Can my blood pressure be normal at the doctor but high at home?
Yes — that pattern is called masked hypertension, the mirror image of white coat hypertension, and it's one of the strongest arguments for home monitoring. See our guide to white coat hypertension for how the two are confirmed.
What is a normal pulse rate?
A normal resting heart rate for adults is roughly 60–100 beats per minute; fit people often sit lower. Pulse and blood pressure are independent measurements — here's how they relate.
