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How to Take Your Blood Pressure
Author: Dr. Vrolijk | Updated: August 23, 2025 | Disclaimer | Review Process | References
You may think you already know how to take your blood pressure. But did you know that things like needing to pee, talking, and your arm position can all make your reading higher than it really is? These steps get missed more often than you’d think, even in a doctor’s office.
This page walks you through each step so you can get readings you can trust.
How to Take Your Blood Pressure Video
Best Times to Measure
Choose a time when you’ve relaxed for a while. So, not after eating, drinking caffeine, or being active. That includes running around the house to get ready.
Some Good Times to Take Your Blood Pressure
- Right after you wake up and use the bathroom
- After you brush your teeth in the morning and evening
- Right before you go to sleep
Getting Ready
Use the bathroom – A full bladder can make your blood pressure reading high.
Find your spot – Sit in a quiet place. Make sure your back is supported, and your feet are flat on the floor. Rest your arm at heart level (the middle of your chest)
Relax for 5 minutes – This helps you get a more accurate reading.
Taking Your Blood Pressure
1. Sit with your back supported and feet on the floor
2. Put the cuff on your bare skin
3. Rest your arm at heart level (the height of where your armpit hair stops)
4. Press start with your other hand
5. Wait 1-2 minutes and take it again
✷ After You Hit Start: Try to sit quietly and stay still. Ignoring the machine and looking at something else can help too.
Quick Answers
Blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day. It’s normal for readings to be different depending on how you feel and what you’ve been doing. For example, your blood pressure goes up with activity or stress.
Don’t take your blood pressure right after exercising, drinking caffeine, or smoking. Wait at least 30 minutes. Also don’t take it if you need to use the bathroom. If you are stressed, wait until you calm down to take it.
Your blood pressure will usually be lower if you take it lying down than sitting up. The problem is that:
- Blood pressure zones are for people sitting up. This makes it possible to compare your blood pressure to these categories. But we don’t have categories for people lying down.
- You usually take your blood pressure sitting up at the doctor’s office. So, doing the same position lets you compare home and the doctor’s office readings.
Before you start:
- Take your blood pressure the same time everyday
- For morning, take it within the first 3 hours of getting up
- Don’t exercise, drink caffeine or smoke/vape beforehand (wait 30 min)
- Make sure your monitor works correctly
- Have the right size blood pressure cuff
When taking it:
- Empty your bladder (go pee) first
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes first
- Put the blood pressure cuff on your skin
- Keep your arm at heart level
- Stay still and don’t talk during the measurement, and take two readings one minute apart
The best way is to bring your machine to your doctor’s office. You can compare it to a friend’s machine if you can’t do that. Or buy one of the validated machines on ValidateBP.org.
Related Articles
Apple's New Blood Pressure Feature
What Apple's study actually found about the new blood pressure feature, who it works best for, and why a regular cuff is still your best bet.
Taking Your Blood Pressure While Anxious
Step-by-step strategy to overcome anxiety about taking your blood pressure.
Understanding Your Blood Pressure Numbers
Find your blood pressure zone, learn what your numbers mean, and get tips for taking an accurate reading.
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Resources We Used
2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines | JACC. Accessed July 11, 2025.
Weinfeld, Jeffrey M., Kathryn M. Hart, and Jose D. Vargas. “Home Blood Pressure Monitoring.” American Family Physician 104, no. 2 (September 2021): 237–43.
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