Should You Take Your Blood Pressure Twice? (and Average It)

Yes, you should take your blood pressure twice, and ideally three times. Leading guidelines advise taking two or three readings about one minute apart, at the same sitting, then averaging them. A single reading can run high or low, so the average gives a truer picture of your usual blood pressure.

If you have ever watched your monitor show one number, then a very different one moments later, you are not doing anything wrong. Blood pressure shifts from beat to beat and minute to minute. That is exactly why one measurement is not enough to judge your numbers, and why the simple habit of measuring more than once matters.

Why one reading is not enough

Blood pressure is not a fixed value. It rises and falls with your breathing, your posture, background stress, a recent coffee, or simply the mild tension of having a cuff squeeze your arm. The American Heart Association (AHA) notes that a first reading is often higher than the ones that follow, partly because your body is settling into the measurement.

Because of this natural variation, one number can mislead you in either direction. A second and third reading, then an average, smooths out the noise and lands you closer to your real resting blood pressure.

Should I take blood pressure twice, or more?

Both the AHA and the UK’s NHS recommend taking more than one reading at each sitting. The practical routine most guidelines describe looks like this:

• Take 2 to 3 readings, roughly 1 minute apart, in the same session.
• Keep the same position each time: seated, back supported, feet flat on the floor, arm resting at heart level.
• Discard the first reading if it is clearly higher, or simply average all of them.
• Do this both morning and evening when you are tracking over days, as the NHS suggests for home monitoring.

If your readings are wildly different from one another each time, that is worth mentioning to your doctor, as it can point to measurement technique or an irregular heartbeat.

How to average your readings

Averaging is simple. Add your readings together and divide by how many you took. For example, if three systolic readings are 128, 124 and 123 mmHg, the average systolic is 125 mmHg. Do the same for the diastolic (bottom) number separately.

The AHA recommends recording the average, not the single lowest or highest number, because the average is what best reflects your typical blood pressure. Many home monitors now calculate this for you automatically after two or three readings.

Building it into a habit

The tricky part is not the maths, it is doing it consistently. Measuring at the same time each day, in the same calm conditions, gives you readings you can actually compare over weeks. For a fuller routine, see our guides on the best time of day to take your blood pressure and how often you should check your blood pressure. Our walkthrough on measuring blood pressure at home covers cuff placement and common mistakes.

When to see a doctor

Home readings are a helpful companion to medical care, not a replacement for it. Contact a healthcare professional if:

• Your averaged readings are consistently 135/85 mmHg or higher at home, which the NHS notes is the home threshold that usually prompts a conversation about high blood pressure.
• Your numbers are steadily rising over time, or you feel unwell.

Seek emergency care right away if you get a reading higher than 180/120 mmHg together with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness, vision changes, trouble speaking, or a severe headache. According to the AHA, this can signal a hypertensive crisis. If you are ever unsure about your readings, ask your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take my blood pressure twice or three times? Two is the minimum most guidelines advise; three is better. The AHA suggests taking 2 to 3 readings about a minute apart and averaging them for a more reliable result.

Why is my first blood pressure reading always higher? The AHA notes the first reading is often higher because your body is still settling. Waiting a minute and taking another reading, then averaging, gives a truer number.

How long should I wait between readings? About one minute between readings in the same sitting, staying seated and relaxed, is the interval both the AHA and NHS describe.

Do I use the average or the lowest reading? Use the average, not the lowest. The AHA recommends recording the average of your readings because it best reflects your usual blood pressure.

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Medically reviewed by: _________________ (clinician name and credential to be added)

Last reviewed: July 2026

Sources: American Heart Association (Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home; Understanding Blood Pressure Readings); UK National Health Service (NHS, How to check your blood pressure; High blood pressure).

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Start this habit in CardioVibe

Take your two or three readings, and let CardioVibe do the rest. Log this reading in CardioVibe and it averages and tracks your numbers over time, so you can see your true trend at a glance.