What is a normal blood pressure by age? (chart)

For adults, a normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg, and that healthy target is the same at 30, 50, or 70. The American Heart Association sets one set of categories for all adults, so there is no separate “normal” number that rises with age. What does change is that blood pressure tends to drift upward over the years, which is why the question of normal blood pressure by age comes up so often.

This guide gives you the chart that actually applies to adults, explains why age matters even though the target does not, covers how children differ, and shows when a reading is worth a call to your doctor.

What is a normal blood pressure by age? The short answer

The honest answer surprises people: the major guidelines do not define a different “normal” for each decade of adult life. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology classify adult blood pressure into the same categories regardless of age. A reading below 120/80 mmHg is normal whether you are 25 or 75.

Plenty of charts online show “normal” numbers climbing with age, for example a higher target in your sixties than your thirties. Those tables usually describe the average reading people tend to have at each age, not a healthy goal. Average is not the same as ideal. Blood pressure rising with age is common, but the AHA notes it still raises cardiovascular risk, so the target to aim for does not loosen just because a number is typical for your age group.

The blood pressure chart that applies to all adults

Here are the American Heart Association categories, measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). These apply across adult ages.

Category	Systolic (top)		Diastolic (bottom)
Normal	Below 120	and	Below 80
Elevated	120 to 129	and	Below 80
High blood pressure, stage 1	130 to 139	or	80 to 89
High blood pressure, stage 2	140 or higher	or	90 or higher
Hypertensive crisis	Higher than 180	and, or	Higher than 120

A reading counts in the higher category if either number reaches it. So 118/84 mmHg is stage 1, because the diastolic sits in that band even though the systolic is normal. For a fuller walkthrough of each number, see our guide to understanding your blood pressure readings.

Why blood pressure changes with age

Age genuinely affects your numbers, even if it does not change the target. As we get older, arteries tend to stiffen and narrow slightly, which nudges systolic pressure (the top number) upward. The AHA and the NHS both note that this is why high blood pressure becomes more common in later life.

One pattern worth knowing is isolated systolic hypertension, where the top number is raised but the bottom number stays normal, for example 145/78 mmHg. Mayo Clinic notes this becomes more common with age as the larger arteries stiffen, and it still needs attention rather than being brushed off as a normal part of getting older.

The encouraging part is that the same everyday habits help at any age. If your numbers are creeping up, our guide on how to lower your blood pressure naturally covers what genuinely moves them.

Is the target different for older adults?

For most adults, the goal is a reading below 120/80 mmHg. Treatment targets, which is a slightly different question, can vary with age and overall health, and that decision belongs with a clinician.

In the UK, NHS and NICE guidance sets a clinic treatment target below 140/90 mmHg for people under 80, and below 150/90 mmHg for people aged 80 and over, because very tight control can carry its own risks in older age. This is about how aggressively to treat, not about relabelling a high reading as normal. Your doctor weighs your age, other conditions, and how you tolerate treatment when setting a personal target.

What about normal blood pressure for children?

Children are the one group where normal blood pressure really is defined by age, and this is where fixed adult numbers do not apply. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the AHA explain that a healthy blood pressure in children is based on percentiles for the child’s age, sex, and height, rather than a single cut-off like 120/80.

Because of that, a child’s reading has to be interpreted against those percentile charts by a healthcare professional. If you are checking a child’s blood pressure, do not compare it to an adult chart. Ask your pediatrician or GP to interpret it.

When to see a doctor

Blood pressure has no reliable symptoms, so tracking matters at every age. Book a routine appointment if your home readings are consistently 130/80 mmHg or higher, or if they are trending upward over weeks, so your doctor can confirm the pattern and talk through next steps.

Seek urgent help right away if a reading reaches 180/120 mmHg or higher, especially alongside chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache. The American Heart Association warns these can signal a hypertensive crisis that needs emergency care. This guide is general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal blood pressure by age chart?

For adults, the American Heart Association uses one chart at every age, with normal defined as below 120/80 mmHg. Charts that show normal numbers rising by decade are describing average readings, not healthy targets. For children, normal is set by age, sex, and height percentiles and read by a clinician.

Does normal blood pressure increase with age?

Average readings tend to rise with age as arteries stiffen, but the AHA target of below 120/80 mmHg does not change. A higher number being common in an age group does not make it low risk, which is why the goal stays the same.

What is a good blood pressure reading for a 60 or 70 year old?

The same as for other adults: below 120/80 mmHg is ideal. Treatment targets can be individualised for older adults, for example NHS and NICE guidance allows a clinic target below 150/90 mmHg for people aged 80 and over. Your doctor sets the right personal goal.

Is 130/80 normal for an older adult?

No. Under current US guidance, 130/80 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension at any adult age, though it is the mild, manageable end. See our guide to what a 130/80 reading means.

---

This is educational information, not medical advice. If you have questions about your blood pressure or take medication for it, speak with your doctor. For guidance, see the American Heart Association or the NHS. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Last reviewed: August 2026

Your target does not change with age, but staying on top of the number gets easier when you can see it. Track your BP free in CardioVibe and watch your trend take shape over time.