Pediatric Blood Pressure Calculator (AAP 2017 Screening Table)
Check a child’s or teen’s blood pressure against the AAP 2017 screening values by age and sex, and see the elevated and stage 1 or 2 hypertension categories from age 13.
How it works
Under 13 years: further evaluation if systolic ≥ screening SBP OR diastolic ≥ screening DBP for age and sex (AAP 2017, Table 6) · 13 years or older: normal < 120/< 80, elevated 120–129/< 80, stage 1 130–139 or 80–89, stage 2 ≥ 140 or ≥ 90 mmHg
The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guideline on high blood pressure in children includes a simplified screening table: values at or above it correspond to roughly the 90th percentile for a short child of that age and sex, so a reading below it is normal and a reading at or above it needs the full height-specific percentile tables and repeat measurements. From age 13 the guideline uses adult-style thresholds: elevated from 120/<80, stage 1 hypertension from 130/80 and stage 2 from 140/90. Hypertension is only diagnosed after high readings on three separate visits, ideally confirmed by auscultation.
Worked example
An 8-year-old boy with a reading of 110/65 mmHg: the AAP 2017 screening value is 107/69 mmHg. The systolic pressure is 3 mmHg above it (the diastolic is 4 below), so the result is Above the screening value — needs further evaluation with the full percentile table using height.
Sources: Flynn JT et al. (2017) Clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 140(3):e20171904 · MSD Manual — Screening blood pressure values in children that need additional evaluation
Frequently asked questions
What is normal blood pressure for a child?
It depends on age, sex and height. As a quick guide, an 8-year-old boy with a pressure below 107/69 mmHg or an 8-year-old girl below 107/69 mmHg is normal according to the AAP 2017 screening table; from 13 years, below 120/80 mmHg is normal.
At what age should children have their blood pressure checked?
The AAP recommends checking blood pressure at every yearly well-child visit from age 3, and at every visit before age 3 in children with risk factors such as prematurity, heart or kidney disease.
Does one high reading mean my child has hypertension?
No. Readings vary with anxiety, activity and cuff size. Hypertension in children is diagnosed only after elevated values at three separate visits, using the correct cuff and the full percentile tables.
Why does height matter?
Taller children normally have higher blood pressure. The full AAP tables give the 50th, 90th, 95th and 95th + 12 mmHg values for each age, sex and height percentile; the screening table uses the lowest (short-child) values so no high reading is missed.
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This calculator gives general guidance and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you are worried about your child, or they seem unwell, contact your pediatrician, a health center or emergency services.