As an ISSA-certified personal trainer, a nutrition coach, and a girl who lost her grandfather to a heart attack from hypertension—I know firsthand how important it is to monitor your blood pressure. High cholesterol runs in my family and will always be a health marker that my siblings and I keep an eye on. Whether I’m at the doctor’s office or tracking at home, seeing that my blood pressure is in a healthy range is a peaceful reminder that I’m staying on top of my health.
Using a home blood pressure monitor doesn’t necessarily need to be for those who struggle with heart conditions, though. Even healthy individuals should monitor their blood pressure. “Heart attacks, strokes, renal failure and peripheral vascular disease can often be avoided with early interventions. Know your blood pressure, even if you are healthy,” says Bradley Serwer, MD, Interventional Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at VitalSolution.
But not all home blood pressure monitors are built equally. Our editors put 35 blood pressure monitors to the test in our lab with the help of an on-site nurse. Then, we evaluated them based on criteria such as accuracy, ease of use, portability, and data display. These are the blood pressure monitors we recommend using to stay on top of your health.
- Arm: These monitors have cuffs that wrap around your upper arm. They’re usually the most accurate type of blood pressure monitor and tend to be recommended by experts more often. Most of our top picks are these types of monitors.
- Wrist: Blood pressure monitors that wrap around your wrist often display the screen directly on your wrist as well. “Wrist monitors are more sensitive to movement and positioning errors, requiring careful placement to get reliable readings,” explains James Lyons, MD, Physician & Medical Consultant at Synergy Houses. “While wrist monitors can be convenient for those who find arm cuffs uncomfortable, they should be used correctly to avoid inaccurate results,” he notes. The only wrist monitor that we recommend is the A&D Medical Premium Wrist Pressure Monitor (UB-543).
- Finger: These blood pressure monitors are the least accurate models, explains Lyons. Most experts recommend avoiding them, so we didn’t include any on our list.
Lyons explains, “Home blood pressure readings should complement—not replace—medical care.” It’s important to track your data and then share it with your healthcare provider routinely. And while one high blood pressure reading isn’t cause for concern (because our blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day),
It’s important to take note of consistently high or low readings. “If your average blood pressure reading is greater than 130/80, you have Stage I hypertension and should be evaluated by your primary care provider. If your blood pressure is greater than 180/100 or if you have symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath or severe headache, you should seek immediate attention,” says Serwer.
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Why We Like It
If you’re wondering what brand cardiologists and emergency medicine experts most often recommend to their patients, the resounding answer is Omron. All of our experts agree that Omron stands out in terms of accuracy and quality. “I recommend at-home blood pressure monitors from Omron. They’re user-friendly, and in my experience, Omron’s monitors also tend to be the most accurate,” says Sharayne Mark, MD, FACC, General Cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia.
During testing, our editor loved how the Omron Complete BP7900 has an easy setup, offers a sturdy travel case, and provides a quick and easy app connection through Bluetooth. The app holds your test history and walks you through each feature, so you know exactly where to look for past data. This monitor also offers a comfortable cuff that expands to a full 17 inches, larger than most cuff sizes, to accommodate more users. Our editor was pleasantly surprised by how this blood pressure monitor offers EKG readings—something he didn’t even know he needed.
It’s Worth Noting
The device itself doesn’t display past readings, but the data is easily accessible in the free app, which offers unlimited cloud-based storage. It’s also a bit bulky, which isn’t ideal if you frequently need to travel with your monitor. If you’re hoping for a monitor that’s easier to transport (and you’re willing to sacrifice the EKG readings), our pick for best portable monitor, Greater Goods Smart Pro-Series Blood Pressure Monitor, may be a better pick for you.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: 9- to 17-inch cuff, EKG readings, free app
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Why We Like It
Getting an accurate reading at home may not be as easy or consistent as the readings you’ll get in the doctor’s office. To get more accurate readings, Lyons suggests “taking two to three readings, about a minute apart, and averaging them can give a clearer picture of your blood pressure.” However, the Equate 8000 Series blood pressure monitor takes three consecutive readings back-to-back and then averages the data to take the leg work out of it for you and improve accuracy.
This monitor blew our editor away with how easy it is to use; it’s ready to use right out of the box, the readings are easy to interpret, and the cuff is comfortable and a breeze to adjust. The monitor even reads your results aloud if you struggle with vision impairment. Our editor also loves that it indicates an irregular heartbeat reading and can store data for up to two users.
It’s Worth Noting
This monitor is a little heavy, which makes it difficult to travel with. However, it’s not oversized and is still more portable than other options.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: Detects irregular heartbeat, automatic data averages, 9- to 17-inch cuff, free app
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Why We Like It
Lyons also recommends A&D Medical. After testing the UltraConnect Wireless blood pressure monitor, we could see why. This monitor impressed our editor with its consistently accurate readings, comfortable cuff, and portable size. While it doesn’t come with a travel case, the monitor and cuff are small enough to tuck into a small travel bag.
However, the most enticing thing about this monitor is its app functionality. Our editor loves how the app is simple and quick to set up (as long as you read the instructions). “The app does all of the work for you and automatically updates with no delays at all,” he explains. The app also calculates your average daily readings and comes with a handy symbol key to make reading your results easier.
It’s Worth Noting
This monitor doesn’t work without the app, so if you struggle with a mobile device, this may not be the best pick for you. Also, the cuff size is a bit large and may not be ideal for small arms.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: Quick readings, automatic data syncing, portability
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Why We Like It
If you’re new to taking your blood pressure at home and don’t want to shell out a bunch of cash on a fancy model with extra features, the Equate 4000 Series blood pressure monitor may be the pick for you. In addition to this monitor’s affordable price, our editor loved the thinner armband, which made it easier to put on her arm and felt comfortable with zero pinching or scratching.
She also appreciated how straightforward and intuitive this monitor is. It doesn’t come with an app, so if tech or mobile devices aren’t your thing—no problem. Plus, it offers color-coded results (green for good, yellow for okay, and red for bad) for easier readings. Lastly, this monitor has a large display with bold, bright letters and numbers for those who struggle with vision problems and carrying cases, making this portable monitor even easier to travel with.
In comparison, we also tested the Beurer Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, Auto 400 (BM72), which is super affordable, intuitive, easy to use, and has bright, bold numbers on a large display. However, our editor struggled to fit the band on her arm properly, and it also doesn’t come with an app. For that reason, we recommend the Equate 4000 Series over this other, cheaper option.
It’s Worth Noting
While some may love that this monitor doesn’t require an app, others may consider this a disadvantage. If you prefer a few more bells and whistles to help you collect your data, check out other options on this list.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: Color-coded results, slim cuff
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Why We Like It
After testing, our editor felt that the Greater Goods Smart Pro-Series blood pressure monitor is almost like a smaller version of the Omron (our pick most recommended by experts) without the EKG function. Like Omron, this monitor has a free app, and the connection is quick and easy. Our editor found this pick was incredibly accurate and consistent, and the strap for the cuff is super secure, which can also help with accuracy. Like the Equate 4000 Series blood pressure monitor, the Greater Good monitor has color-coded readings to make deciphering your results that much easier. It’s quick, simple, and reliable when it comes to getting your results.
The best part about this monitor, though, is that it’s handheld, which makes it a great option if you need to take your blood pressure while you travel. It can fit into small bags, but it also comes with a travel case that has a handle if you want to carry it separately.
In contrast, we also tested the Dario Blood Pressure Monitoring System and found it was fantastic for traveling. However, the buttons on the device are unclear, and the display feels outdated, so we still recommend the Greater Goods monitor if you’re frequently on the go.
It’s Worth Noting
The screen size could be better utilized for more detailed readings.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: Small size, sturdy carrying case
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Why We Like It
After testing the Medline Digital Upper Arm blood pressure monitor, our editor said, “The monitor did a beautiful job displaying my readings. It has big and bold blood pressure and heart rate readings on the screen, which caters to those with visual challenges or elderly in general.” He was also impressed with the accuracy of the readings, the comfortable arm cuff that didn’t scratch at all, and the small size that lends to easy portability.
This monitor does come with an app, but our editor loved that it’s not required to use the monitor. So if you’re not partial to mobile devices or if you simply don’t care to track your recordings in an app, you’re free to just the monitor on its own. That being said, the app is easy to set up, and you can manually enter recordings in the app later if you decide you’d like to start using it. The Medline blood pressure monitor is also ready to use right out of the box, which our editor found convenient.
It’s Worth Noting
It’s a bit slow to deliver readings. However, we think that’s a small price to pay for accuracy.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Upper arm | Features: Bold display, traveling case
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Why We Like It
The majority of the blood pressure monitors recommended in this article (and by experts) are upper arm monitors, and for good reason. Upper-arm monitors tend to be more accurate because they’re less sensitive to movement. However, there are some people who simply don’t like the first of upper arm monitors or prefer the smaller size of wrist monitors. If you’re hoping to find a solid wrist monitor, we recommend the A&D Medical Premium Wrist blood pressure monitor.
Setup for this monitor was easy and only required three simple steps. The cuff doesn’t feel constricting, the material is comfortable, and it fits most wrist sizes. “Incredibly quick and easy to get a reading; it’s just three simple steps once you get it on,” our editor explains. “It was easy to read the data as it was clearly laid out in large font,” she adds.
In comparison, we also tested the Beurer Bluetooth Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Premium 800W, which is compact and lightweight and has a bold display with color-coded indicators. However, the Bluetooth connection is frustratingly slow, and the cuff felt heavy and slid on our editor’s thin wrists. For that reason, if you’re looking for a wrist monitor, we recommend the A&D Medical Premium over others.
It’s Worth Noting
It’s important to ensure the wrist cuff is tight enough to get an accurate rating, which we struggled to do. However, the more we practiced, the better we got at securing the cuff.
Product Details:
HSA/FSA Eligible?: Yes | Type: Wrist | Features: Traveling case, stores up to two users’ data, large font on the display
Our Health team tested 35 blood pressure monitors in our Lab. With the help of an expert nurse on-site, each of our editors established a baseline for their individual blood pressures to compare the accuracy of each model we tested. We then evaluated the monitors based on the following criteria:
- Accuracy: After testing each monitor, our editors noted whether or not the readings matched the initial baseline established by our on-site nurse. They also took note of how consistent the monitors were across multiple readings.
- Ease of Setup: We preferred when monitors were ready to go right out of the box. But is setup was required, we analyzed whether the setup was intuitive and simple or hard to understand.
- Fit: Our editors noted how well the cuffs fit around their arms and wrists. They also examined the comfort of each cuff and the sizing options of each cuff to ensure inclusivity.
- Ease of Use: Monitors that gave quick and easy readings, with data that was simple to interpret, were prioritized over models that we found convoluted and time-consuming.
- Data Display: Our editors noted how many users were allowed to store information in the devices or their apps, how easy the data was to read on the displays, and how quickly the data appeared on the displays.
- Portability: Lastly, we examined how easy each monitor was to transport and whether or not it would fit in a travel bag or if it came with a handy carrying case.
- Mark L. Meyer, MD, FACP, FACC, is a board-certified physician and a New York-based cardiologist
- James Lyons, MD, Physician & Medical Consultant at Synergy Houses
- Bradley Serwer, MD, Interventional Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at VitalSolution
- Sharayne Mark, MD, FACC, General Cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia
While everyone’s needs are different, there are a few factors that make certain monitors more worthwhile for most users in general. Consider whether you want a smart monitor that syncs to an app or if you prefer a simple, no-frills option. Either way, when shopping for a new blood pressure monitor, Lyons recommends looking for options that are:
- Clinically tested since they’re validated for accuracy.
- Upper arm monitors, as they tend to be more accurate.
- Easy to read with bold fonts or color-coded results, especially if you struggle with vision impairment.
To ensure your blood pressure readings are as accurate as possible, experts recommend taking the following measures:
- Sit back and relax: Lyons recommends that you “sit in a chair with your back supported and feet flat on the ground. Rest your arm on a table at heart level, and try to relax for at least five minutes before taking a reading.”
- Skip the coffee: Serwer suggests avoiding stimulants before taking a measurement, as caffeine can raise your blood pressure.
- Be consistent with timing: Serwer also recommends taking your blood pressure at the same time every day. Your measurements can fluctuate throughout the day, so checking your pressure at the same time every day can lead to more consistent, accurate readings.
- Bring it to the doctor’s office: Both experts advise taking your blood pressure monitor to your doctor’s office to compare readings with a professional monitor. Your doctor may even be able to calibrate your monitor for more accurate readings if it’s off the mark.
Loren Brutsch is an editor at Health.com who specializes in health and wellness content. She’s an ISSA-certified personal trainer and a Precision Nutrition-certified nutrition coach, so she understands the value of tools that help people keep their health markers in check.
