Elderly Blood Pressure Chart by Age and Height
If you have searched for an elderly blood pressure chart by age and height, you have probably found tables with age down the side and a different “normal” for each decade. Many of them are misleading. This guide explains what the evidence says, and what to look at instead.
Does normal blood pressure change with age?
No. For adults, the main guidelines use the same categories at every age. A reading below 120/80 mmHg is normal for a 35 year old and for an 85 year old. What changes with age is how likely a reading is to be high, and the target a doctor sets for someone who is frail or unwell.
You can see the categories on our blood pressure by age page, or type your own reading into the chart to see where it sits.
| Category | Top number (systolic) | Bottom number (diastolic) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | and below 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and below 80 |
| Stage 1 high | 130 to 139 | or 80 to 89 |
| Stage 2 high | 140 or more | or 90 or more |
These are the US categories (2025 AHA/ACC guideline). UK and European guidance uses slightly different cut-offs. See our guides to the NHS and UK chart and the full elderly blood pressure range.
What about height?
Height-based blood pressure charts exist for children, because a child’s normal range depends on age, sex and height. Adults do not have a height-based chart. A taller or shorter adult does not have a different “normal” reading.
Body size does matter in one practical way: the cuff size. A cuff that is too small for your upper arm gives a falsely high reading, and one that is too big can read low. If your arm is large or very thin, check the size guide on the box. Our home measuring guide covers this.
What does change for older adults
- The target. Doctors often set an individual target for people who are frail, in care, or prone to falls.
- The top number. Arteries stiffen with age, so the top number often rises while the bottom stays steady. This is called isolated systolic hypertension. It still counts.
- Low readings. A reading that is fine for a younger adult can cause dizziness in an older one. Read more in elderly blood pressure too low.
- Standing up. Blood pressure can drop when you stand. Try the standing check.
What to use instead of a chart by age and height
- Take readings the right way, at the same times each day.
- Keep them in a log and look at the weekly average rather than a single number.
- Print a large-print chart and write your doctor’s target on it.
- Ask your doctor what your target is.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice.
Check your own reading
Type your two numbers into the chart and see where they sit, in plain words.