To get a reliable home blood pressure reading, use an upper-arm cuff monitor. Rest for five minutes first, sit with your back supported and feet flat, and keep your arm at heart level. Take two readings a minute apart and write both down. The rest of this guide explains each step and the small mistakes that throw readings off.
Home readings are useful because they show how your blood pressure behaves in everyday life, not just during a few minutes at the clinic. They do not replace check-ups, and you should never change or stop medication based on home readings without speaking to your doctor.
1. Choose the right type of monitor
The American Heart Association recommends an automatic monitor with a cuff that goes around your upper arm. It does not recommend wrist or finger monitors for regular home monitoring, because their readings depend heavily on how you hold your wrist.
If you already use a wrist monitor, for example when travelling, keep your wrist exactly at heart level for every reading and follow the instructions in the box. For regular monitoring, an upper-arm model is the better choice.
When you buy, check two things:
- Validation: ask whether the model has been independently tested for accuracy. Your pharmacist or clinic can help, and validated device lists such as validatebp.org are a good starting point.
- Cuff size: measure around the middle of your upper arm and choose a cuff that fits. A cuff that is too small or too large gives wrong readings.
2. Prepare for 30 minutes before you measure
- No smoking, caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks) or exercise for 30 minutes beforehand.
- Go to the toilet first. A full bladder can raise your reading.
- Roll up or remove your sleeve so the cuff sits on bare skin, never over clothing.
3. Sit correctly
- Sit in a chair with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor. Don't cross your legs.
- Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is level with your heart. Use a cushion under your arm if the table is low.
- Sit quietly for at least five minutes before you start. Don't talk, check your phone or watch TV during the reading.
4. Put the cuff on properly
Wrap the cuff snugly around your bare upper arm, with its bottom edge just above the crease of your elbow. Most cuffs have a marker that should sit over the artery on the inside of your arm. Either arm is usually fine, but use the same arm each time.
5. Take two readings and record them
Press start and stay still and silent until the monitor finishes. Wait one minute, then take a second reading. Write down both results with the date and time, or use your monitor's memory if it has one.
Measure at the same times each day, for example in the morning before breakfast or medication, and again in the evening. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to check.
6. Bring your monitor and your records to the clinic
Take your monitor to your next appointment so a nurse or doctor can check your technique and compare it with their reading. A quick check about once a year helps keep your home readings trustworthy.
What to do if a reading is high
One high reading on its own is not usually an emergency. Sit quietly, take it again, and record both results for your doctor.
If your reading is above 180/120 mm Hg, wait one minute and measure again. If it stays that high, contact your doctor straight away. If it is that high and you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, a change in vision or difficulty speaking, call an ambulance immediately on 10177, or 112 from a cell phone.
Common mistakes that skew readings
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Measuring straight after coffee, a cigarette or exercise | Wait 30 minutes |
| Cuff over a sleeve | Place it on bare skin |
| Arm hanging down or held up | Rest it on a table at heart level |
| Talking or using your phone | Sit quietly for 5 minutes, then stay silent |
| Wrong cuff size | Measure your arm and buy the matching cuff |
| Only one reading | Take two, one minute apart, and record both |
Choosing a home monitor
AsapCare stocks two upper-arm monitors: the fully automatic upper-arm monitor with spoken readings and two-user memory, and the upper-arm monitor with a large high-contrast display. Compare all our models in the blood pressure monitors collection.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about your own blood pressure and treatment. Source: American Heart Association, "Home Blood Pressure Monitoring", last reviewed 14 August 2025. Article updated 16 October 2026.