How to measure your blood pressure at home

High blood pressure (hypertension) is linked to around half of all heart attacks and strokes in the UK.

Yet around 5 million people are living with high blood pressure without knowing it. That's because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms.

Even if you feel well and have a healthy lifestyle, it's important to get your blood pressure checked.

You can do this at your GP surgery, at some pharmacies in England for free if you are over 40 and do not already have diagnosed high blood pressure, or by measuring it yourself at home with a monitor.

10 steps to taking an accurate blood pressure reading

Make sure you’re feeling calm and not anxious or stressed. Do not wear a thick jumper/cardigan as this will affect the accuracy of the result.
Sit upright with your back against the back of your chair and feet flat on the floor.
Rest your arm on a table and make sure your hand is relaxed. Do not clench your fist while taking your blood pressure.
Place the cuff over your upper arm with the tubing leading down the centre or slightly to the right of your arm.
Tighten the cuff around your arm, making sure you can still fit 2 fingers underneath.
Press the 'On' button on your monitor, then press the 'Start' button. Do not talk and try to relax.
You’ll feel the cuff inflate automatically, quite quickly, and then deflate again. It may feel a bit tender or uncomfortable, but this will only be for a short period of time. If it's too uncomfortable, you can press the ‘Stop’ button and the cuff will instantly deflate.
Once you get your reading, make a note of it. You may find it helpful to use our blood pressure diary. Some machines also come with a printer, so you can stick your print-outs in a notebook if you'd like to.
Repeat steps 6 to 8 a few minutes later to check your blood pressure again. This is to make sure the readings are similar and accurate. If they are not, repeat a third time.
If your GP or nurse has asked you to check your blood pressure, you'll need to take it twice in one day – morning and evening – and then make an appointment to discuss the results with them.

Watch how to take your blood pressure at home

Right hand side of the image shows a woman in a rust colour top with brown hair sat down with a blood pressure monitor on her arm. On the left is a red background with words in white reading Measuring your blood pressure.

Watch our short video explaining how to take your blood pressure at home

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

Once you have your monitor and you know how to use it, you can check if your blood pressure is in a normal range.

The following table shows what different blood pressure readings mean:

What it means	Top number - systolic (mmHg)	Bottom number - diastolic (mmHg)
Low	Less than 90	Less than 60
Normal	90-130	60-85
High-normal	130-139	85-89
High	More than 140	90 and above

How to choose a blood pressure monitor

If your doctor has asked you to measure your blood pressure at home, they may be able to lend you a machine.

If you're buying your own device, the cheapest monitors start from around £20 and are available in most local pharmacies and larger supermarkets. The BHF online shop also sells them.

Here are a few ways to make sure your monitor is accurate and reliable:

Get a monitor with an upper cuff: Ideally, choose a blood pressure monitor that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm. If you cannot use a cuff on your upper arm, you can use a cuff that wraps around your wrist instead.
Make sure the cuff is the right size: The cuff should wrap snugly around your upper arm, with just enough space to slide 2 fingers underneath. Most home blood pressure monitors will come with a medium-sized cuff. If your upper arm is much larger or smaller than average, you may need to buy a different sized cuff separately.
Check if it’s UK approved: For the most accurate results, choose a blood pressure monitor that has been independently tested and validated. The British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS) and the international STRIDE BP programme assess monitors against recognised accuracy standards. You can check whether a device has been approved on the BIHS validated monitor list or the STRIDE validated monitors list.
Get it serviced every 2 years: Your blood pressure monitor needs to be serviced and calibrated at least once every 2 years to make sure it’s accurate. This involves sending it back to the company who made it, usually for a fee. If this option is too complicated or expensive, it may be easier and cheaper to buy a new monitor.