The 10 Best Blood Pressure Monitors Reviews & Guide for 2020

When you are investigating the best blood pressure monitor to buy whether for your upper arm or wrist, please read the reviews and buying guide here to help you with your choice. For inexperienced users, it can be overwhelming, but hopefully, we have clarified much of your questions for you. These are ideal for home users and professionals alike.

When high blood pressure or hypertension is uncontrolled, it can sometimes lead to strokes, a heart attack, or disease of the kidneys. The numbers of people suffering are high. One in every three adults in the USA has high blood pressure. Now you absolutely should know how this indicator of health affects your arteries and your heart.

Since high blood pressure usually doesn’t have recognizable signs or symptoms, nearly 30- to 40-percent of adults do not realize they have it and that can carry risks.

Your blood pressure should be 120/80 or lower according to The American Heart Association^®. At 139/80 you are considered hypertensive.  High blood pressure is above 140/90.

Blood Pressure Numbers Defined

The numbers are a measurement of pressure in millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg). The systolic is the highest pressure for one heartbeat. The diastolic lower number is the amount of pressure between two heartbeats. The cuff you put around your wrist (not the best unit) or your upper arm (the best unit) is known as the sphygmomanometer, Greek sphygmus, meaning pulse and the scientific term manometer, meaning pressure meter.

The diastolic pressure is the bottom number. The dia in the word means dilation for the vessels expanding increasing in size. It is the lowest arterial blood pressure when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood.

If you need a better understanding, tell your doctor. The blood pressure numbers can be very difficult to understand what it all means for your body.

Lifestyle Influences

Blood pressure changes are attributed to different things you do daily. It can change from when you are sitting down, standing up, laying down, any physical activity, mental stress, when asleep with other factors taken into consideration such as what you eat, drink, and the medications you take. Salt has always been known to increase blood pressure.

Be aware to lower your risk so you don’t get heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and kidney disease by dropping your blood pressure immediately.

• Don’t just wait until you visit your doctor; monitor you blood pressure at home with a unit you trust. You will get different readings from the monitors at pharmacies, stores, and other places for everyone to use. Having your own is more reliable.
• Always take your doctor prescribed blood pressure medicine for lowering your blood pressure.
• Avoid doing physical actions before taking your blood pressure; it will be off. Rest and catch your breath then take it.
• Do not drink coffee, caffeinated beverages, eat, smoke, bathe, or shower within a half hour of taking your pressure.
• Rest 5- to-10 minutes then take your blood pressure for accurate results.
• Take 2 readings about 5-minutes apart.
• Keep a journal or chart of your readings for your own knowledge and share it with your doctor at your next visit.
• Take your blood pressure the same time every day for the best results.
• Discuss with your doctor any side effects for example, constipation, coughing, or any other problems that might indicate changing your blood pressure medicine dosage or brand.
• Reduce salt and saturated fat in your food. Your heart will thank you for it.
• Extra potassium is good but always check with your healthcare provider if you suffer from kidney disease, diabetes, or other distressful physical conditions.
• You can definitely lower your blood pressure when you lose weight.
• Take a walk morning and evening for about 30-minutes each time; it’s healthy and reduces blood pressure improving leg arteries.
• Nicotine sticks to and plugs up arteries; if you smoke, get help from a support group to stop.
• Alcohol effects blood pressure. If you drink daily, consult with your doctor.
• Blood pressure monitors are not a substitute for the most accurate readings you will get at your doctor’s office.
• Check with your healthcare provider if you wear a heart pacemaker before investing in and using a blood pressure monitor.

We all have things that cannot be changed over which we have no control for keeping a healthy blood pressure throughout our lives. Some of these are:

• Family history—if your parents, grandparents, and other close relations have high blood pressure, chances are you will have it too or be more at risk for it.
• You are more at risk if you are African American, South Asian, Inuit, or Aboriginal lineage.
• Do not use on youngsters under 18 years old.

In the graph at the right, you will see that 18- to 24-year-old people will at about 10% whereas people at 75+ years old will be at about 80%.

Do not use blood pressure monitors on babies or children under 18. Never use on your pets; take your pet to your veterinarian.

Calibrating Your Blood Pressure Monitor

Most home blood pressure monitors will not need calibrating. If you want to check your monitor against your doctor’s, take yours with you at your next visit and have a reading from yours and from the doctor. Home monitors are very accurate today.

Another good thing about blood pressure monitors is that some of them have options so that more than one user can take pressures. Some can be used with smartphone apps, iOS, Android^®, and with irregular heartbeat detectors and other features.

Over-the-Counter Monitors

Not all over-the-counter monitors for blood pressure fit all people. If your wrists, or upper arms are overly large or small, the reading will not be accurate. You must be rested in the first place to even take your pressure. If you carried heavy items or have been walking, your blood pressure will be up for false results. Home blood pressure monitors are very handy to have nearby, but will have disadvantages if the cuff does not fit you.

Blood Pressure Monitor Types

There are several blood pressure monitor types to choose from and the upper arm cuff is best. Blood pressure monitors are known as sphygmomanometers. For more than a hundred years, the mercury gravity monitor that hung on doctor’s walls were the best for accuracy and some older doctors still use them.

Today the mercury manometer has been replaced with aneroid instruments for home and professional use.  The units use gravity, they calibrate easily, and seldom need to be fixed. The safety concerns using mercury manometers has caused many professional settings to stop using them today.

Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors

Wrist blood pressure monitors are totally automatic, small, portable, and lightweight. They are not as accurate as are the arm monitors. You must be sitting down with your feet on the floor. The unit needs to be placed at your inside wrist turning your palm up, not on top your wrist. Raise your arm so that it’s near your heart level for better results. The wrist monitors normally are battery powered but some use electricity and plug into a wall receptacle. Illustration of wrist blood pressure monitor is shown on the right.

Arm Blood Pressure Monitors

These units inflate the cuff as soon as you turn it on automatically. The readings are then displayed on the front panel in about 1-minute. Some of the monitors have indicators to show irregular heartbeat and other risks. Many are available so that you can share the data with your doctor when you download the results to your computer or laptop. Others have memories for more than one user. It is very important to fit the cuff correctly checking your instruction booklet. If the cuff is too tight or too loose, you will have wrong readings. Illustration of upper arm blood pressure monitor shown here.

Best 10 Blood Pressure Monitors

1. Omron^® 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

The Omron^® 10 Series upper arm blood pressure monitor is one of the best on the market. I bought this one recently for $50 less than the pharmacy store where I saw it first.  Amazon.com^® is indeed the greatest place for best prices.  The model number BP786N sells well on Amazon and the unit’s front panel displays large numbers to see easily.

Omron^® states that this model number BP786N and BP786 are the same item. Minor technical changes were made to the components of the item and that is why Omron^® changed the model number to BP786N. The quality and features of the monitor are the same.

The cuff fits regular and larger top arms (biceps) without a problem. The ComFit^™ cuff will fit the bicep at the upper arm 9- to 18-inches around using the TruRead^™ that takes 3 consecutive readings then automatically calculates the average for a correct reading for you to see. Or, you can turn that function off and use one time each time. Be sure to put it on your upper arm where the instructions show for the best results. Pharmacists and healthcare providers recommend this unit.

This unit makes it easy for you to follow your readings. It allows 2 users to have 100 readings each for a total of 200 evaluations. The pressure measurement range is 0 to 299 mmHg. It will detect an irregular heartbeat and will show this with a symbol shown in the instructions. It can be used on either arm, but doctors use the left arm because it’s closer to your heart.

The Omron^® uses Bluetooth^® technology. This monitor will connect wirelessly to iOS, iPhone^® 6, 6 plus, 6S, 6S plus, and Android^™ devices with graphs and trend charts to see your previous and current readings. If you have the Samsung^® Galaxy S6 you will need to synchronize up with the Cloud. Manage and track your last 200 readings on your Smartphone, compatible with Apple iPhone^® 4S and higher, iPad^®3 and higher, iPad^® Mini, iOS 7 plus, Samsung^® Galaxy S III and higher, and Android^™ OS 4.3 plus. After you buy it, you can access your readings anywhere with the free Omron Wellness app here

Want to share your information with your family or your doctor? Locate your devices and check out how to do this at the link above. You will have unlimited mobile apps readings to save.

Know that the blood pressure monitor does not include a USB port. It does not come with a cover or case either. It is lightweight at about 2-pounds and you can put it in a zippered makeup pouch or similar to take with you and store when not using.

2. Omron^® 7 Series Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

The Omron^® wrist blood pressure monitor model number BP652N will give only your heart readings and is silent to inflate to not disturb others. The model before this one, model number BP652, is no longer manufactured and is obsolete. This model does not have the 2-user’s mode. Only one person can use this monitor. Omron^® is the number 1 recommended brand by pharmacists and doctors.  Omron^® blood pressure monitors are latex-free.

The labels on the monitor are only in English on the control panel. It comes with 3 AAA batteries. The band fits wrists that are 5-1/4- to 8-1/2-inches when you measure around your wrist not on the outside wrist bone.  The monitor works on either wrist. There is no adapter to run on electricity. The control panel is not backlit.

The pressure measurement range is from 0-299 mmHg and pulse is 40-180 bpm (beats per minute). The monitor does not print out on paper, is not computer compatible, and it is a standalone monitor. It will automatically give you an average for your last 3 readings over a period of 10-minutes so that you will have more accurate knowledge of the health of your heart. It will detect arrhythmias and the little heart at the top will beat with the beat of your heart.  A vibrating heart pops up if you have 3 abnormal beats consecutively. It will store up to 100 readings for you to record to see any variations in your readings. You will always have the date and time and able to view it with a button. It has been tested to be as precise as the upper arm blood pressure cuff used by doctors.

How to take your blood pressure with the Omron^® 7 Series Monitor video

3. Panasonic^® Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

The Panasonic^® bicep upper arm cuff model EW3109W has a large LCD (liquid crystal display) with digital images.  It is affordable and exact for the information you need to know each day. There is no D-ring; the cuff wraps around your arm and fastens securely with Velcro^®. The cuff fits the upper arm from 7-3/4- to 15-3/4-inches. The unit isolates essential pulse oscillations (fluctuations) with Panasonic’s^® digital filter technology. One touch of a button will inflate the cuff for a comfortable fit on your bicep muscle area.

It is portable to take with you in the included pouch so that you can have precise readings wherever you are. It’s small and compact to fit in a drawer, purse, satchel, and luggage. Run it at 50- to 104-degrees F., and store it at minus 4- to 140-degrees F. for best performance.

The readout lets you save and follow your results with its automatic 90-reading memory. The system will flash for any high blood pressure numbers. The LCD screen will flash numbers when your pressure is above 139 systolic or 89 diastolic. The screen also lets you see your pulse rate shown at the same time as your blood pressure and these are saved in the unit’s memory. The measurement range pressure is 0-280 mmHg and pulse rate are 30- to 160-pulses per minute. The accuracy for your blood pressure is ± 3 mmHg and pulse rate is ± 5%. Do not use for babies and children; consult your pediatrician.

It does not record date and time, but it does store your previous readings and will calculate your average numerically as 1, 2, 3, 4.

The monitor comes with 3 AAA alkaline batteries with a life for 500 uses; an A/C adapter is optional. The Panasonic^® 6-Volt A/C Adapter is part number EW31095K.

4. Greater Goods^® Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

The Greater Goods^® professional Balance model is an upper arm cuff to be used on your left bicep with easy-to-read blue backlit LCD digital display in many colors with huge numbers. You can use either arm but be sure to use the same arm each time. One button activates the monitor for you and another user for exact measurements.

The monitor is FDA-registered and the cuff is one-size-fits-all for most user’s bicep area expanding from 8-3/4- to 16-1/2-inches. You can set the unit to monitor yourself with another person storing up to 60 records each. It will turn itself off automatically if you forget to do it. You never need to pump it; the unit automatically does it. The unit isolates essential pulse oscillations (fluctuations) with its oscillographic test mode. The measurement pressure range is 0-300 mmHg and pulse is 40-199 bpm (beats per minute). You will see a heart symbol showing a pulse and irregular heartbeat. The monitor and cuff together weigh approximately 11.5-ounces. It comes with 4 AAA batteries with instructions in English and Spanish. A video also comes with the monitor.

It comes with a zippered nylon case 6-1/2-long x 5-1/4-wide x 3-1/4-inches high with a handle on the end for storage and travel. It has a low battery indicator that shows LO plus a battery symbol. This monitor measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse. The hypertension indicator bar and irregular heartbeat sensor will alert you to any issues you might have. You will not lose your data when you change the batteries.

Greater Goods^® Making Things Better^™ gives back to their charity partner, Love146. The company contributes a portion of the Balance model monitor to end child trafficking by raising awareness and caring for survivors. When you buy a monitor from Greater Goods^®, you can be confident that you are caring for your own health and the health of children in need. This is impressive to me and a good thing!

5. MDF^® Calibra^® Aneroid Sphygmomanometer Professional Blood Pressure Monitor

The MDF^® Calibra^® Aneroid Sphygmomanometer with adult sized cuff included is a top seller on Amazon.com^®. The model MDF808M-11 is available in black, navy blue, and purple to match or coordinate with your professional clothing.  MDF^® has been handcrafting fine instruments since 1971. The monitor is latex-free and comes with a full Lifetime Warranty. The adult cuff fits 9.8- to 15.7 inches.

You will be assured of its accuracy being quality tested for stress 3000 times and 5 times for superior calibration. The dial is easy to read with its easy-to-see distinct extra-large round dial. The bulb and bladder is crack resistant giving you exact compression and deflation. The screw valve is made of chrome-plated brass to never rust or become defective. This contains no mercury but measures millimeters of mercury or mmHg units to measure blood pressure. It has an arrow pointing to the brachial artery. This model Calibra^® does not come with a D-ring; however, you can buy a different cuff that has a D-ring from MDF^®.

With its precise certified 300 mmHG manometer, it has an accuracy of ± 3 mmHG without pin stop. It is made of die-cast zinc with a textured baked enamel finish including a durable and strong clip for attaching to the cuff’s Sphygmo gauge holder. The inflation bag and cuff resist chemicals such as peroxide, chlorine, and moisture. The cuff is made of polymer nylon and attached when wrapped around with Velcro^®. It meets the American Heart Association’s^® standards for the artery indicator label and index range. You always need a stethoscope for a reading, so check out the offer below.

It comes with a zippered nylon carrying case with handle and a Velcro^® side pocket with identification tag attached.  You will additionally receive a free extra cuff or free stethoscope when you buy this MDF^® Calibra^® Aneroid Sphygmomanometer Professional Blood Pressure Monitor. See the bottom of Amazon.com^®’s page for taking advantage of this offer.

The dimensions are about 23.6- x 14.9- x 6.5-inches weighing about a pound in the pouch. The instructions are in English or Spanish.

6. QardioArm Wireless Smart Blood Pressure Monitor

The QardioArm blood pressure monitor model A100 for the upper arm permits multiple people to use it to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure with its capability of heart rate showing irregular heartbeat. It is an arctic white color compatible with Apple^® iOS 8.0 or later, Android^® 4.4 or later devices and Kindle. It will work with your Smartphone or tablet wirelessly. See the QardioArm list for all compatible devices here.

Pair with more than one device using Bluetooth^®. It will average your measurements over 3 times, give reminders, with geo-tracking over locations and more. Share your data with family and doctors.

The monitor is FDA approved for accuracy and is clinically confirmed to meet both U.S. and European Standards. With the touch of a button you will have an easy-step set up. You can see your results compared to the World Health Organization chart for interpretation to follow your trends with simple graphs and charts. It uses 4 AAA batteries included at 1.5-Volts. It fits 8.7- to 14.6-inches at the upper arm and attaches with Velcro^®.

7. Aickar Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

The Aickar blood pressure monitor accommodates 3 users with the medium-sized upper arm cuff fitting 8.7- to 13-inch arms at the bicep. Each of the 3 users will have their own set of values visible in less than 40 seconds. The unit automatically powers itself off. You will also see your pulse reading. It will sync up with your computer exporting your data to manipulate to an Excel spreadsheet. You can share your reports with your friends and doctor. It is FDA approved and gives exact readings every time. It has the USB port on the lower right side.

You can use either of 2 power sources with the A/C adapter, included, or 4 AA batteries (not included). The low battery indicator tells you when to replace batteries on the 2.8-inch LCD display. The unit is portable to take whenever anywhere being small and compact. You will receive with the monitor, a User’s Manual, A/C adapter, USB cable, and mini-CD software.

8. Ann Bully^® Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

The Ann Bully^® of the Wang Chao Shenzhen Source Technology Company makes a superb blood pressure, heart rate, and irregular heartbeat monitor with a large LCD display in white plastic with a Velcro^® wraparound wrist strap. Ann Bully is a trademark protected by the U.S. Trademark Law.

It will give you your readings in 1 step inflating the cuff to the correct level. It will fit a wrist circumference of 5.3- to 7.7-inches, not covering the wrist bone on the outside. Each user can have 90 stored readings each. It will store your pulse rate, blood pressure, date, and time, and can be removed for any new users. It uses 2 AAA alkaline batteries (not included).

It captures 0-299 mmHg with pulse rate at 40 to 200 BPM (beats per minute) and the dimensions are 3.7- x 3.7- x 3.7-inches and weighs about 9 ounces. It is portable to take with you anywhere.

9. Care Touch™ Fully Automatic Upper Arm Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

The Care Touch Platinum Series upper arm blood pressure monitor ASIN B0743LGMT8 has a large LCD (liquid light crystal) display to show blood pressure with an irregular heartbeat indicator symbol. The screen is 2.36- x 3.6-inches. This monitor is a trusted best seller on Amazon.com^®.

Two people can use this unit that will give 250 readings and storing them for each person with an average for the last 3 readings. You will have your reading in about 60-seconds. The product is guaranteed if you are not happy with it within the year you bought it. Its memory will hold 60 readings with a date and time stamp on the panel.

The unit is clinically correct and comes with 4 AAA batteries and is FDA approved. It shuts off automatically and has a low battery indicator symbol when the batteries need to be replaced.

The A/C adapter is a sold as a separate component. See the option on Amazon.com^®.  Amazon has an adapter offered with the purchase of the blood pressure cuff.  It is listed as Zjchno 403 6-Volt adapter to D/C 5.5/2.1 mm.

The pressure accuracy is + 3 mmHg and the pressure range are 0 to 300 mmHg, pulse accuracy + 5% and the pulse range is 40-199 BPM (beats per minute). The cuff fits medium to large biceps from 8.5- to 16.5-inches.

Put the cuff just above the elbow as shown in the instructions for the best and most accurate reading. The monitor will shut off automatically.

10. Welch Allyn Home™ 1700 Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

The Welch Allyn Home 1700 Series blood pressure monitor model number H-BP100SBP is not only trusted in the doctor’s office, it is designed to also be used at home. It is Smartphone compatible with loads of features. Check it out with all its functions on Amazon.com^®.

This blood pressure monitor with SureBP technology will show you accurate results every time. It is easy to use with 1 button showing your numbers in about 20-seconds. Unlike other home blood pressure monitors, the Welch Allyn Home blood pressure monitor tolerates motion with a 97% success rate.

You are able to connect to the free Welch Allyn Home app to monitor and track your progress. The app is free and can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. Share you results with your family and your doctor. When your doctor has the results you achieved from your own home monitor, he or she can work with you to improve your health.

The monitor is 2.60-inches deep x 5.59-inches long x 3.7-inches wide. It also comes with a carrying case with handle to take with you or store.

Tips

• If corded, plug the UL^® listed cord into a USA, Mexico, or Canada 110/120-Volt, 50/60 Hz outlet. Those in other countries will need to buy a 220/240-Volt adapter.
• Test your blood pressure the same time every day.
• Do not eat, exercise, smoke, drink coffee or alcohol 30-minutes before testing.
• Sit relaxed with your feet on the floor and your arm resting on a table for either the wrist or upper arm blood pressure monitor.
• Be sure the upper arm cuff is about 1-inch above the bend in your elbow.

Final Thoughts

Read customer reviews at Amazon.com^® where buyers and users will give their best opinion for you to make a selection choice. Check several brands and read those customer reviews. You want to read about blood pressure arm or wrist comfort level, any flaws, and hidden defects.

With the information given here with the best brands we consider being excellent quality and affordable, you should have a good amount of data having no problems choosing the best blood pressure monitor. We all already know that preparing for the good health with the best medical devices is certainly better choice than wait to be taken to the hospital. So, enhance your life by reading our site daily!