What is pulse pressure?

Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure: pulse pressure = systolic − diastolic. For a reading of 120/80, the pulse pressure is 120 − 80 = 40 mmHg.

What is a normal pulse pressure?

A resting pulse pressure of roughly 40–60 mmHg is generally considered normal. Below about 40 mmHg is called narrow, and above about 60 mmHg is called wide; both can be worth discussing with a clinician.

What does a wide pulse pressure mean?

A wide pulse pressure (above about 60 mmHg) often reflects stiffer arteries and is more common with age; it can be associated with conditions such as isolated systolic hypertension. It is a screening signal, not a diagnosis.

What does a narrow pulse pressure mean?

A narrow pulse pressure (below about 40 mmHg, or less than a quarter of the systolic value) means the gap between the two numbers is small. It can occur with a low stroke volume. Interpret it alongside the full reading and clinical context.

Is my reading sent anywhere?

No. Every calculation runs locally in your browser; your blood pressure numbers never leave your device.

What is the Pulse Pressure Calculator?

Calculate pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic) and mean arterial pressure from a blood pressure reading, and see whether your pulse pressure is narrow, normal or wide. Runs 100% in your browser. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

Pulse Pressure Calculator

Name: Pulse Pressure Calculator
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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The Pulse Pressure Calculator turns a blood pressure reading into two useful derived numbers: pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP).

Pulse pressure

Pulse pressure is simply the gap between the two numbers in a blood pressure reading:

Pulse pressure = systolic − diastolic

For a reading of 120/80 mmHg, the pulse pressure is 120 − 80 = 40 mmHg.

Pulse pressure	Label
Below 40 mmHg	Narrow
40 – 60 mmHg	Normal
Above 60 mmHg	Wide

A wide pulse pressure tends to rise with age as large arteries stiffen, while a narrow pulse pressure can accompany a low stroke volume. Both are screening signals rather than diagnoses.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

MAP estimates the average pressure in your arteries across one cardiac cycle:

MAP = diastolic + (pulse pressure ÷ 3)

A MAP of roughly 70–100 mmHg is generally considered adequate to perfuse the organs. For 120/80, MAP is 80 + (40 ÷ 3) ≈ 93 mmHg.

Use these figures for information only, and discuss anything unusual with a clinician — a single reading varies with activity, stress and measurement technique.