Blood Pressure Chart by Age and Gender
See average blood pressure for US men and women at every adult age, how the 2025 AHA/ACC categories work, and check your own reading.
Average Blood Pressure by Age and Gender
Average readings for US men and women in each age group, in mmHg (systolic/diastolic).
Quick answer: normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg at every adult age, for men and women alike. Average readings rise with age: US men average 117/71 at 18–29 and 129/68 at 80 and over, while women average 107/69 and 140/71.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 117/71 | 107/69 |
| 30–39 | 120/77 | 109/73 |
| 40–49 | 122/79 | 115/76 |
| 50–59 | 127/79 | 121/77 |
| 60–69 | 129/76 | 126/75 |
| 70–79 | 129/72 | 131/72 |
| 80+ | 129/68 | 140/71 |
An average is not a target. The normal category is below 120/80 at every adult age, for men and women alike. Older groups average higher because high blood pressure becomes more common with age, not because higher numbers are healthy. See the blood pressure categories to check your own reading.
Adults only. Children and teens are assessed differently, using percentiles for their age, sex and height. See the 2017 AAP pediatric guideline.
Source and method
Calculated by us from CDC NHANES August 2021–August 2023 public data: 6,084 adults, pregnant participants excluded, using CDC survey weights so the averages represent the US adult population. Each person's value is the average of up to three automated cuff readings.
You may reuse this table under CC BY 4.0: please credit bloodpressurechartbyage.com and link back.
Compare with CDC's published 2001–2008 averages
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–39 | 119/70 | 110/68 |
| 40–59 | 124/77 | 122/74 |
| 60+ | 133/69 | 139/68 |
From National Health Statistics Reports No. 35 (CDC, 2011). Systolic averages are similar at most ages. Diastolic averages are 4–5 mmHg lower than ours, partly because NHANES switched from manual to automated cuffs, which read diastolic pressure differently.
Blood pressure in men vs women
- Younger adults: men average about 10 mmHg higher systolic than women at 18–29 (117 vs 107).
- Middle age: the systolic gap narrows, and men's diastolic stays higher (79 vs 76 at 40–49).
- Older adults: women's systolic overtakes men's from their 70s (131 vs 129 at 70–79, 140 vs 129 at 80 and over).
- Same categories for both: these differences are in averages only. The normal, elevated and high blood pressure categories are identical for men and women.
- Blood pressure chart for women: averages, menopause, pregnancy and birth control
- Blood pressure chart for men: averages, how common high blood pressure is, and what helps
Check Your Blood Pressure Reading
Enter your age and gender to see the average for your group. Add a reading to see which category it falls into. For adults 18 and over.
Blood Pressure Categories
The 2025 AHA/ACC guideline categories for a single adult reading, from normal to severely high.
Systolic
< 120
AND
Diastolic
< 80
Maintain healthy lifestyle habits
Systolic
120–129
AND
Diastolic
< 80
Focus on lifestyle changes to prevent progression
Systolic
130–139
OR
Diastolic
80–89
Lifestyle changes plus possible medication
Systolic
≥ 140
OR
Diastolic
≥ 90
Lifestyle changes, and medication is usually recommended
Systolic
> 180
OR
Diastolic
> 120
With symptoms, call emergency services. Without symptoms, wait a minute and retest; if still this high, contact your provider right away
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Rule | Diastolic (mmHg) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | < 120 | AND | < 80 | Maintain healthy lifestyle habits |
| Elevated | 120–129 | AND | < 80 | Focus on lifestyle changes to prevent progression |
| High BP Stage 1 | 130–139 | OR | 80–89 | Lifestyle changes plus possible medication |
| High BP Stage 2 | ≥ 140 | OR | ≥ 90 | Lifestyle changes, and medication is usually recommended |
| Severely High | > 180 | OR | > 120 | With symptoms, call emergency services. Without symptoms, wait a minute and retest; if still this high, contact your provider right away |
How to read this: if your two numbers fall in different categories, the higher category applies (for example, 125/85 is Stage 1 because of the 85). A diagnosis is based on the average of 2 or more readings taken on 2 or more occasions, so a single high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure.
Source: 2025 AHA/ACC high blood pressure guideline · AHA: when to call 911
Blood Pressure by Age Group
Averages, check-up schedules and what to watch for at each stage of adult life.
Normal at every adult age: below 120/80 mmHg
Young adults (18–39)
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 117/71 | 107/69 |
| 30–39 | 120/77 | 109/73 |
How often to get checked
Every 3 to 5 years if your readings are normal and you have no risk factors. Every year if you do.
Worth knowing
- High blood pressure at this age is often missed because it rarely causes symptoms
- Habits set now (activity, sodium, alcohol, not smoking) shape later readings
- Pregnancy needs its own blood pressure checks; ask your maternity team
Middle age (40–59)
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 40–49 | 122/79 | 115/76 |
| 50–59 | 127/79 | 121/77 |
How often to get checked
Every year from age 40.
Worth knowing
- Women's averages rise faster than men's from middle age on
- Confirm a high clinic reading with home or ambulatory readings before treatment starts
- Excess weight and diabetes both raise the risk of high blood pressure
Older adults (60+)
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 60–69 | 129/76 | 126/75 |
| 70–79 | 129/72 | 131/72 |
| 80+ | 129/68 | 140/71 |
How often to get checked
Every year, or as often as your healthcare provider advises.
Worth knowing
- For adults being treated, the 2025 US guideline target is generally below 130/80 at any age; your provider may set a different goal
- Dizziness when standing up can be a sign of blood pressure dropping; mention it at checkups
- Several medicines can raise or lower blood pressure, so review them regularly
Sources: averages from CDC NHANES 2021–2023 · check-up schedule from the US Preventive Services Task Force · treatment target from the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline
Blood Pressure by Age, Height and Weight
What height and weight do and don't change about blood pressure, with averages by BMI.
Is there a blood pressure chart by height?
Not for adults. An adult reading is classified by the numbers alone, so the normal category is below 120/80 whatever your height. Height only matters for children and teens: under 13, blood pressure is compared with percentiles for age, sex and height, and from 13 to 17 high blood pressure starts at 130/80, as for adults. Source: 2017 AAP pediatric guideline.
Average blood pressure by weight (BMI)
Weight doesn't change which category a reading falls into, but it does change risk: excess weight raises the chance of high blood pressure, and losing weight can help lower it. In US adults, average diastolic pressure rises steadily with BMI, from 68 in the underweight group to 79 in the highest obesity class.
| BMI category | BMI | Average (mmHg) |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight* | below 18.5 | 112/68 |
| Healthy weight | 18.5 to 24.9 | 119/72 |
| Overweight | 25 to 29.9 | 121/74 |
| Obesity, class 1 | 30 to 34.9 | 123/77 |
| Obesity, class 2 | 35 to 39.9 | 123/79 |
| Obesity, class 3 | 40 or higher | 121/79 |
Adults 20 and over, men and women combined, pregnant participants excluded. Calculated by us from CDC NHANES August 2021–August 2023 measured height, weight and blood pressure, using CDC survey weights. Not adjusted for age: the groups differ in age mix, which also affects blood pressure. * Small group, so this average is less precise. BMI categories: CDC. Weight and blood pressure: CDC.
Your own reading is judged against the blood pressure categories, not against your weight group's average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about blood pressure by age, gender and measurement
What is normal blood pressure by age and gender?
The normal category is the same for every adult: below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic, for men and women of any age. What changes with age and gender is the average. For example, US women aged 30–39 average 109/73 and men aged 60–69 average 129/76. An average shows what is common, not what is healthy.
Source: American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology · CDC National Center for Health Statistics
What is considered normal blood pressure?
Below 120/80 mmHg. The top number (systolic) is the pressure when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure when your heart rests between beats. 120–129 with a diastolic below 80 is elevated, 130–139 or 80–89 is Stage 1, and 140 or higher or 90 or higher is Stage 2.
Source: American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology
Does blood pressure go up with age?
On average, yes for systolic. US women average 107 systolic at 18–29 and 140 at 80 and over; men go from 117 to 129. Diastolic rises until middle age and then falls. The categories don't change with age, so a higher average in older groups reflects how common high blood pressure becomes, not a higher healthy limit.
What is the average blood pressure for women and men?
It depends on age. Women average 107/69 at 18–29 and 140/71 at 80 and over. Men average 117/71 at 18–29 and 129/68 at 80 and over. Women average lower than men until about age 70, then higher. The full table is in the chart above.
Does normal blood pressure depend on height or weight?
Not for adults: an adult reading is classified by the numbers alone. Children and teens are different, because their normal range depends on age, sex and height percentiles. Weight still matters for adults, since excess weight raises the risk of high blood pressure and losing weight can help lower it.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How often should I check my blood pressure?
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends a check every year from age 40, or earlier if you are at higher risk (for example, overweight, Black, or with readings already near the high range). Adults 18–39 with normal readings and no risk factors should be checked every 3 to 5 years. If you have high blood pressure, follow the schedule your healthcare provider gives you.
What causes high blood pressure?
Common causes and risk factors include not getting enough physical activity, a diet high in sodium, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, excess weight, diabetes, stress, family history and older age.
How can I lower my blood pressure?
Being active (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week), eating less sodium, limiting alcohol, not smoking, keeping a healthy weight and managing stress all help. If these aren't enough, a healthcare provider may prescribe medication. Don't start, stop or change medication without talking to them.
When is high blood pressure an emergency?
A reading above 180/120 is severe. If you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, a change in vision or difficulty speaking, call emergency services right away. Without symptoms, wait a minute and measure again; if it is still that high, contact your healthcare provider promptly.
Source: American Heart Association · American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology
What is low blood pressure for a woman?
The same as for a man: a reading below 90/60 mmHg is usually called low. Low blood pressure often causes no problems. See a doctor if you keep having symptoms such as dizziness or fainting.
Source: NHS
Are home blood pressure monitors accurate?
A clinically validated upper-arm monitor with the right cuff size is accurate enough to help diagnose and track blood pressure. Guidelines recommend home or ambulatory readings to confirm high blood pressure before treatment starts.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for education only. Talk to your healthcare provider about your own readings and treatment.
Important Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized blood pressure management and treatment recommendations. Individual blood pressure targets may vary based on your specific health conditions and risk factors.