About 50% of all adults need to check their blood pressure at home. Using the right monitor matters. (ConneQt, Braun, iHealth)(ConneQt, Braun, iHealth)
Nearly every trip to the doctor's office starts with that familiar cuff on your arm, followed by the pump, pump, squeeze that records your blood pressure. But for half of all adults, that check needs to happen more often — and at home, according to a 2019 report in the journal Hypertension. That means many people, especially those with high blood pressure or conditions like heart failure, diabetes or kidney disease, should be looking for the best blood pressure monitor for home use, says Dr. Joseph Lodato, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
"At-home blood pressure monitors give us a clearer picture of how you're doing day-to-day, especially if we're adjusting medications or just keeping an eye on things between visits," says Lodato. "Knowing your numbers empowers you to proactively manage your health and potentially reduce the risk of serious health issues."
Case in point: In a 2025 study of more than 3,500 people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, those who monitored at home and shared results with their doctors saw their numbers drop by an average of 16/10 points — and three-quarters kept their blood pressure under control for at least a year.
That means, if you have hypertension, checking your BP with an at-home blood pressure monitor (along with following key lifestyle changes and taking your prescribed medications) can be instrumental in keeping your numbers in check and lowering your chance of complications. After all, uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage your brain, kidneys, eyes and heart, putting you at a greater risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, dementia and vision loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But before you run out and grab the first at-home blood pressure checker you find, it's worth knowing which features matter most — and that not all blood pressure monitors for home use pass muster with doctors. To help you navigate this important choice, we consulted two cardiologists and a cardiac researcher to find out their must-haves and then we personally tested 13 home blood pressure units for clinical validation, accuracy, ease of use, helpful features (like app sync capabilities and irregular heartbeat detection) and overall value.
Here's what our testing revealed as the best at-home blood pressure monitors:
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff size: 8.6"-16.5" | Bluetooth: No | Number of users: One | Readings stored: 30 | Power source: Batteries
Being affordable and user-friendly might have been enough for the Braun ExactFit 2 Blood Pressure Monitor to earn the top spot on our list, but once we saw that it's clinically validated by the American Medical Association and has received the "preferred device" award through Stride BP, an international non-profit founded by hypertension experts, it was a no-brainer.
Beyond awards and accolades, our testers love the clear blood pressure readings. There's a heart icon that clearly lights up in select colors to indicate your status: Green for normal, yellow for elevated, orange for moderate, red for severe — and flashing red for a crisis. The monitor also stores up to 30 past blood pressure readings directly on the device, which is helpful for spotting trends over time and sharing a more complete picture with your care provider. If you want to store more readings, you can manually input your data into the corresponding Braun Healthy Heart app.
Because the app is not required to use the monitor, you can get started with readings as soon as you open the box. Simply plug in the cuff, pop in the batteries and you're good to go. Of course, without an app that syncs your data you won't be able to back up unlimited readings or share them automatically with your doctor. But that one drawback is not enough to sour our testers on the ExactFit 2.
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff sizes: 12.6''-16.5'' (32cm-42cm) and 8.6''-12.6'' (22cm-32cm) | Bluetooth: Yes | Number of users: One | Readings stored: Unlimited | Power source: USB
The ConneQT Health Blood Pressure Monitor is one of the best at-home blood pressure monitors out there — and then some. It not only measures BP, but other parameters that indicate heart stress, including arterial stiffness and central blood pressure, which is the measurement of your BP at the root of your aorta. Over time, the ConneQT can crunch your data and put together a personalized picture of your cardiovascular health, including potential risk for coronary plaque, calcification, heart attack and stroke. It's also validated by the AMA-established U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing (VDL) database and FDA-cleared, two big pluses, according to Lodato.
The monitor stands out for its clear numerical display and built-in explanations of what those numbers mean. Even as a former hospital nurse, I wasn't aware that blood pressure guidelines were updated in 2025 to classify that anything over 120/80 now counts as level 1 hypertension — so seeing that alert was incredibly helpful. It gave me peace of mind to have the more in-depth readings, especially since my husband isn't the type to keep up with his regular doctor checkups. I also like that the display tracks changes in pulse and blood pressure from your last readings and even provides weekly averages — all right on the device, no app required.
The ConneQT is the only unit we tested that includes two cuff sizes, which is great, but it also means you need to be cautious about using the correct size. "An overly large or too small cuff will over- or underestimate blood pressure readings," says Viet Le, a certified physician assistant and an associate professor of cardiovascular research at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City.
Case in point: One of our testers tried both cuffs, and the wrong size showed dangerously high blood pressure levels. Once he switched to the correct size, his readings fell back into the normal range.
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff size: 9"-17" | Bluetooth: Yes | Number of users: Two | Readings stored: 100 in device; unlimited in app | Power source: Batteries or AC adapter
The Omron 10 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor BP7465 is one of the best at-home blood pressure monitors for people with diagnosed or suspected atrial fibrillation (A-fib) — an irregular, often rapid heart rhythm that raises the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart failure. With the same simple process you use to check blood pressure, it can instantly detect signs of A-fib, giving you a clear signal to seek medical attention. While none of our testers experienced a-fib during evaluations (thankfully!), the Omron 10 has earned the official VDL verification — so it's safe to say the device is both accurate and trustworthy.
Another Omron feature I appreciate is how it shows your current and previous readings on the same screen. This makes it easy to compare results — especially if you get a high number and want to double-check. The layout is clear too: The previous reading appears smaller on the left, while your latest result is front and center in larger type.
I like my blood pressure cuffs ready to go out of the box, and this one hit the mark — with only a minor snag: I received a few error messages in the initial setup, but the issue was quickly resolved. Another near-negative is that the cuff is extremely stiff — a bit different from the more usual, "floppy" type. While it took some careful adjusting to take my blood pressure, the rigid nature actually helped prevent it from slipping out of place, so it wound up being a plus.
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff size: 8.7"-16.5" (22-42cm | Bluetooth: Yes | Number of users: One | Readings stored: 99 in device; unlimited in app | Power source: Batteries
The iHealth Track Smart Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with Wide Range Cuff has racked up more than 50,000 Amazon reviews, 75% of them 5-star. Given its popularity and wallet-friendly price (not to mention our own positive experience with testing), giving it the "best budget" superlative makes sense. (Of note: At press time, the monitor was no longer available at Amazon, but can be found on the company's website.) What is surprising (given its $40 price tag) is that it's FDA-cleared, clinically validated and far more compact than it looks in photos. (Bonus: iHealth products frequently go on sale, so you may be able to score this monitor for even less.)
The battery-powered unit comes with batteries included, so it's ready to use immediately upon opening. It's got the basic functions you need, plus a color-coded blood pressure reading scale: Green (optimal), Orange (hypertension type 1) and Red (hypertension type 2 or 3). The monitor syncs to the free iHealth MyVitals app on an iPhone or Android and allows you to add notes to your readings. For instance, if you want to explain a certain reading to your doctor or for your own personal use, the app allows for that. While you can store unlimited BP readings on the app, the device itself can hold up to an impressive 99.
While the cuff pumped up tighter than most and took a little extra time before showing your results — and some online reviews noted inconsistencies — our testers did not experience any issues.
Monitor type: Wrist | Cuff size: 5.3-7.6" | Bluetooth: No | Number of users: One | Readings stored: 90 | Power source: Batteries
First and foremost: An arm cuff blood pressure monitor is the go-to for accuracy, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), the experts we interviewed — and me, a nurse. That said, for individuals who may have mobility challenges or issues placing a cuff on their arm (say, folks with large biceps), this can be an option.
If you and your care team decide that a wrist blood pressure monitor is for you, we recommend the Paramed Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. Of the two we tested, this one is at a more competitive price, it's easy to use and read — and includes batteries. I appreciated the clear visual depiction of how to use the cuff on the inside of the included case, especially since I was wholly unfamiliar with using a wrist blood pressure monitor. I should've looked at it before I put the cuff on like a watch, with the display facing up. The correct placement, though, is on the inside of the wrist with your palm facing up.
In our testing, the wrist cuff gave higher systolic readings (the top number) compared with standard arm cuff monitors. As the Mayo Clinic notes, poor positioning often leads to falsely high readings from wrist blood pressure monitors. That's why it's especially important to place the monitor directly over your wrist's brachial artery, where you can feel your pulse. Don't place the device over your clothes and keep your wrist at heart level while doing each reading.
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff size: 9"-17" | Bluetooth compatible: Yes | Number of users: Two | Readings stored: 120 per user | Power source: Batteries
As a blood pressure monitor, the Homedics Relax+ Upper Arm 900 Series works well, is easy to use, provides fast and consistent readings and boasts AMA validation. But the Relax+ goes beyond the basics by incorporating a PPG sensor — the same light technology in many smartwatches — to track your pulse. After you insert your index finger into the sensor and press start, you get a "live" heart rate reading that lets you see your pulse in action and alerts you if any irregularities are detected. The hitch? We can't confirm the clinical accuracy of this feature because only the blood pressure monitor portion is approved for clinical validation
Pulse readings aside, testers like the practical functions of this at-home blood pressure monitor. For instance, it can accommodate two users, and allows you to track readings and data over time via the free Homedics app. The unit also assesses cuff fit, alerting you if it is too tight or too loose, a helpful feature for anyone new to monitoring blood pressure at home.
Monitor type: Upper arm | Cuff sizes: Standard cuff (8.6-16.5 in.) or XL cuff (8.6-18.9 in.) available | Bluetooth: Yes | Number of users: Two | Readings stored: 100 per user in device; unlimited in app | Power source: Batteries or USB-C
While we'd prefer it if the outstanding Oxiline Pressure XS Pro Blood Pressure Monitor was both FDA-cleared (it is) and clinically validated, the latter has not happened yet. That said, Le does recommend seeking "FDA clearance or validation," so we still feel good about our pick.
The bright and easy-to-read LED display screen shows your systolic and diastolic numbers, your pulse rate and irregular heartbeat alerts. Plus, testers highlight how much they appreciate the color-coded hypertensive scale that gives a clear visual of your results. (The display lights up with a green line near the bottom of the screen for normal readings and shows orange or red higher up for abnormally high readings.)
Not only is the Pressure XS Pro easy to use, it features a unique detector that alerts you if you're moving too much for an accurate reading. (Our testing proved it really works.) It also auto-checks your cuff placement, so you can be sure you get it right every time, which is especially helpful for anyone new to home blood pressure monitoring.
Other big perks: This monitor can hold 100 readings per user in its built-in memory, it runs on battery or USB-C — and it syncs with the free (and highly insightful) Oxiline app too. Add in a lifetime warranty and there's little question why we had to include the Pressure XS Pro on the list.
Just an FYI: While batteries are included, the brick for charging with the USB-C is not.
Typically, there are five styles of at-home blood pressure monitors. In our roundup we included automatic upper-arm cuffs — the only at-home devices recommended by the AHA — and one wrist monitor that may be needed in special circumstances.
Automatic upper arm cuff: A blood pressure cuff wraps around your upper arm and connects to a small measuring unit via a tube. The cuff automatically detects your blood pressure and sends the reading to the unit, which displays it as a digital readout.
Wrist monitors: This smaller unit fits around your wrist and assesses the blood vessels near your hand. Because, according to Le, "wrist monitors are less reliable than other blood pressure monitors, prone to error and not recommended" they should be reserved for those who cannot use a well-fitting arm cuff.
Finger monitor: The AMA does not recommend the use of finger blood pressure monitors, noting "finger monitors give less reliable readings."
Smart monitors/watches: While the Omron HeartGuide is the only FDA-cleared smartwatch BP monitor, "cleared" simply means it's similar in safety to an existing device, not that it's proven to work. And other smartwatches (like the Samsung Galaxy5S) take BP readings with sensors, but still require cuff calibration and monthly recalibration. In the end, smartwatch blood pressure monitors are not reliable — cuff monitors are still the gold standard.
Manual upper arm cuff: Here, you physically inflate the cuff with an air pump, then listen to the blood vessel with a stethoscope. While this is still the method many doctors' offices use, it typically requires someone other than yourself to listen and record your blood pressure. Because of this, an automatic blood pressure cuff is best.
When choosing an at-home blood pressure monitor, consider:
Cuff sizing: "Fit matters. An incorrect blood pressure cuff size can throw off your reading," says Lodato. In fact, a 2023 randomized study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that using a regular BP cuff size for all individuals — no matter their arm size — resulted in "strikingly inaccurate" blood pressure readings. That's why Lodato encourages everyone to measure their arm circumference before buying to help ensure an accurate fit.
Clinical accuracy: According to our experts and the heart-health leaders at the AMA, the best blood pressure monitors for home use have been clinically validated for accuracy. To ensure your BP monitor is clinically validated, do a search on the AMA-established U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing (VDL) database.
User-friendly: A large, easy-to-read display, simple one-button operation and color-coded readings are just a few examples of user-friendly features that are important. "Any monitor that's too complex will be too difficult to use or interpret," says Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist in Bethesda, Maryland.
Memory: "If possible, choose an at-home BP monitor with data storage," says Le. "This will help you provide your numbers more easily to your healthcare provider, who can then review your blood pressure trends." Even without an app, many devices store enough readings to give a clearer picture than a one-off doctor's office check, which can be skewed by stress or poor sleep.
Bluetooth syncing: While not everyone needs a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure monitor, "remote monitoring devices that send readings directly to your care team help us fine-tune treatment without the need for additional appointments," says Lodato. "It's like having an extra set of eyes on your heart, right from home."
To narrow our list, we interviewed three cardiology experts on what matters most in a home blood pressure monitor. We then tested 13 popular units — both arm and wrist — in real-world settings on a range of users.
We included people with normal blood pressure and those with hypertension, and compared results with doctors' office readings to check accuracy. We also continued testing over several weeks to confirm claims like memory storage, app function and trend analysis. As a registered nurse with step-down critical care experience, I drew on my professional background reading telemetry strips (the readouts of a patient's heart activity) to evaluate monitors with irregular heart rate detection.
Finally, we verified that all recommended arm monitors appear on the VDL database as clinically validated; the two exceptions are our featured wrist monitor and our designated "best nonverified" pick.
Amazon Basic Care Blood Pressure Monitor: This is a solid blood pressure monitor with a generously-sized blood pressure cuff that worked for all testers. It's affordable and easy to use. The only things that kept it off our list: It's not yet clinically validated by the AMA nor FDA-cleared.
iHealth Neo Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor: At $80, this all-in-one cuff and monitor didn't deliver enough value or features to stand out. The design makes self-testing awkward — you can't see the start button while wearing it, so it's a blind push — and the overall build felt low-quality.
Konquest KBP-2704A Blood Pressure Monitor: This BP monitor performed well in testing and is priced right at $40, but the cuff's positioning bar is in placed in a way that makes inflating the cuff uncomfortable.
Mmizoo Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor (W1681): This wrist blood pressure monitor has a voice function that reads out your BP findings and interprets them, making it well-suited to anyone who's visually impaired. Alas, wrist monitors generally aren't recommended.
Invaxe ARM Blood Pressure Monitor: This non-Bluetooth cuff is simple, straightforward and user-friendly. While it's a good basic option, it doesn't offer any unique or standout features.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. This condition, affecting about 48% of American adults, can lead to serious issues like heart attack and stroke.
The American Heart Association (AHA) explains that your blood pressure measurement has two numbers:
Top number (systolic): measures the force your heart exerts on your arteries when it beats. A normal reading is less than 120.
Bottom number (diastolic): measures the force while the heart is resting between beats. A normal reading is less than 80.
You officially have high blood pressure if your top number is 130–139 or your bottom number is 80–89.
What is normal blood pressure by age?
"Normal" blood pressure doesn't change as you get older. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy reading is below 120/80 for adults of all ages. What does change with time is the natural stiffening of blood vessels, which helps explain why systolic blood pressure (the top number) often creeps up later in life. But experts don't give older adults a pass — high blood pressure is defined as 130/80 or higher, no matter how many birthdays you've had.
An automatic, upper-arm blood pressure cuff monitor is the most accurate at-home blood pressure monitor, according to all the experts we spoke to and the AMA. Wrist and finger BP monitors are not recommended since they offer less reliable readings. It's also best to "purchase a monitor that has been validated and listed on the VDL database," says Le.
Yes. Wrist BP monitors "often give falsely high readings," according to Mayo Clinic. The AMA also notes they're less reliable and not recommended. All the experts we spoke to agreed: For accuracy, stick with an upper-arm cuff.
Here's what our experts and the AMA recommend:
Prep first: Don't smoke, drink caffeine or exercise within 30 minutes. Pee before testing.
Sit correctly: "Sit in a chair that supports your back, feet flat on the floor, arm resting at heart level," says Lodato.
Place the cuff properly: The cuff should be on bare skin, with the middle of the cuff at heart level and the bottom just above your elbow crease.
Relax: "The most accurate blood pressure is obtained after the patient has been sitting or resting for approximately five minutes," says Serwer. (So no chatting or scrolling while you wait.)
Be consistent: The best time to check blood pressure is the same time each day, preferably in the morning.
Double-check: Record two readings, one minute apart, each time you check your BP.
Ask your provider: Talk with your care team about how often you should measure at home.
There's truly no one-size-fits-all. To take out the guesswork, measure your arm circumference at the middle of your arm — precisely halfway between your shoulder and elbow. As a guide, the average adult arm circumference falls between 10.5 inches to 13 inches. If your arm is smaller or larger, size down or up so your readings stay on point. Doing this is very important. As Cleveland Clinic puts it, "the size of the cuff is the most important feature to check when you're selecting a blood pressure monitor." And Lodato adds, "a too-small or too-large cuff can make a blood pressure reading inaccurate."
Yes, if you choose a monitor designed for multiple users — and it has an app with separate user profiles. Of the best blood pressure monitors for home use that made the cut, the following accommodate two users:
Joseph Lodato, MD, cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Washington, D.C., and Maryland
Viet Le, a certified physician assistant and an associate professor of cardiovascular research at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City
Bradley Serwer, MD, interventional cardiologist in Bethesda, Md., and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, which offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
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