The 6 Best Blood Pressure Monitors of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Our Testing Process

The Health team tested 10 blood pressure monitors from the Validated Device Listing in our Lab. At the beginning of the test, testers had their blood pressure taken by Huma Sheikh, MD, using a hospital-grade blood pressure monitor to compare to the blood pressure monitors for accuracy and consistency. 

During the test, our testers noted how comfortable and easy the cuff was to fit around our arm. We also rated each device for how clearly it displayed results, how easy it was to access stored results (and whether it could store measurements for multiple users), as well as how portable the the monitor was.

The test took place over the course of eight hours, with testers following recommended protocols to ensure accurate readings, including fasting for 30 minutes and resting for 10 minutes before readings. Testers took two readings on each arm.

What to Know About Blood Pressure Monitors

How to Get an Accurate Reading 

To get the most accurate reading possible, avoid things with the potential to raise your blood pressure, such as caffeine, smoking, and exercise, 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. The American Medical Association also recommends using the bathroom first, indicating that a full bladder could elevate your reading up to 15 mmHg. 

You should be seated with your back supported and no potential restrictions to blood flow, like crossed legs. Your arm should also be raised to heart level for proper measurement. You’ll also want to take two or three readings in a row to ensure they are all similar.

Dr. Gerlis suggests you work with your primary care physician after purchasing a blood pressure monitor to ensure the cuff is properly placed in order to give accurate readings. Navya Mysore, MD, a primary care physician and medical director of One Medical in New York City, also recommends taking your monitor to your doctor once or twice a year to ensure it is still measuring your blood pressure accurately, as well as replacing your device every five years.

How the Cuff Should Fit

Proper cuff fit is vital to getting accurate measurements; a cuff that is too loose or tight on your arm will lead to an inaccurate reading. To measure your arm for a cuff, you’ll want to measure the circumference of your mid-upper arm, about halfway between your elbow and shoulder. According to Target:BP, the cuff’s length—which wraps around the arm—should be roughly 80 percent of your mid-upper arm measurement. For example, if your arm circumference is 40 cm, your cuff measurement is 32 cm. Cuffs often come in size ranges.

How to Read Your Measurement 

Blood pressure monitors often display three numbers: systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and current heart rate. Blood pressure readings are presented as two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure (the larger number, usually at the top of the monitor) tells you how much pressure your blood is putting on artery walls with each heartbeat. Diastolic pressure—the bottom number—tells you how much pressure blood is putting on artery walls at rest, in between beats.

While your doctor can provide more information about what readings you should expect, the American Heart Association has resources on what normal, elevated, and hypertension blood pressure levels look like. Healthy blood pressure is generally a measurement below 120/90 mmHg and above 90/60 mmHg.

Types of Blood Pressure Monitors 

There are three primary types of blood pressure monitors: upper arm, finger, and wrist. The American Heart Association only recommends upper arm blood pressure monitors as finger and wrist monitors are not considered as reliable or accurate. And Dr. Gerlis agrees, saying wrist monitors “are not as reliable in my experience.”

A 2020 study of wrist monitors found that 93 percent passed blood pressure monitor validation protocols and only had, on average, a difference of 0.5 mmHg in systolic pressure and 0.2 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure from a standard sphygmomanometer. While wrist monitors are becoming more accurate, the issue they present is that proper placement and setup is even more integral to accurate readings than with upper arm monitors. That makes them easier to misuse or to use and get an inaccurate measurement. 

While wrist cuffs are largely discouraged in favor of arm cuffs, the American Medical Association announced last year that wrist devices would soon be validated on validatebp.org for patients that could not use their upper arms for blood pressure monitoring; the list now includes four wrist devices with the disclaimer that upper arm cuffs are preferred. The next time we test blood pressure monitors, we will include more approved devices designed to take measurements on your wrist.

Extra Features 

Heart Rate Monitoring

Many blood pressure monitors allow you to see your heart rate while taking your blood pressure. Some blood pressure monitors, like the Microlife Watch BP Home, also provide alerts for irregular heart rates.

Pressure Level Indicators

A few of the Omron models we tested included level indicators for blood pressure. The indicators would give feedback on low, normal, and high blood pressure. While some testers liked this feature, others thought this feature could cause unnecessary concern for patients and should be left up to healthcare providers to interpret.

Smart Capabilities

Many blood pressure monitors also sync with associated apps to provide more extensive data. Smart blood pressure monitors can deliver results to your doctor with just a few taps from inside the app. Smart monitors may also be able to give more data about your readings, including more detailed trends, including averages over time. There are some smart monitors that also provide EKG and heart sound feedback.

You may also see apps that claim to measure blood pressure on their own; “Smartphone apps that claim to check blood pressure are not accurate and should not be used,” says Sudeep Singh, MD, of Apprize Medical. 

More Blood Pressure Monitors to Consider

We tested the following blood pressure monitors in addition to those in our top choices, but they ultimately fell short when it came to features like ease of use, data display, and set up.

• A&D Medical Advanced Manual Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor: While the monitor is easy to read and displays data clearly, the system is difficult to use for new users.
• Omron Evolv Upper Arm: It scored a 5 in data display and portability, but our tester found the cuff difficult to put on without help.
• Withings BPM Connect: The associated app is easy to use, but information is displayed on the cuff and readings take a while to process.
  

Your Questions, Answered

How accurate are blood pressure monitors for home use?

Blood pressure monitors are considered accurate, with many doctors recommending them to their patients for home monitoring. Dr. Mysore suggested the following rule of thumb: “if the systolic number is in the range of ten points from the reading done in the office, then your machine is deemed accurate.”

Many of the doctors we spoke to also recommended patients use validatebp.org, which lists all devices that meet the American Medical Association’s “Validated Device Listing (VDL)” criteria; all of the devices we’ve recommended here made the cut.

Which is better: an upper arm or wrist monitor?

The American Heart Association recommends upper arm monitors for the most accurate readings. Dr. Singh recommends wrist monitors only in the case of patients whose arms do not fit traditional arm cuffs.

Don Pham, MD, a cardiologist at Memorial Hermann Southeast in Houston, explains why wrist monitors are often not recommended. “In general, the wrist monitors are more likely to report higher readings given the narrow vessels in the area and [their] difficulty to position correctly,” he says.

Who We Are

Jaylyn Pruitt has a Master of Library and Information Science with a focus on health information. Her goal is to provide easy-to-understand information with a patient perspective in mind.