Best blood pressure monitors for home use

To find the best blood pressure monitors, we’ve taken more than 1,500 blood pressure readings to bring you our definitive verdict on the ease of use, comfort and accuracy of widely available models.

We test wrist and arm blood pressure monitors and in general readings are very quick – they take anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute. Wrist monitors generally provide results more quickly.

Wrist monitors also tend to be lighter and more portable, especially when travelling. However, they're more prone to giving inaccurate readings compared to arm blood pressure monitors as your wrist isn't naturally at heart height.

The best blood pressure monitors from our tests

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The blood pressure monitors we tested

All the blood pressure monitors we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Omron Evolv Automatic

Type Arm monitor

Need to know Data averaging, date time stamp, PC connection, irregular heartbeat detector, smart technology, carry case

Need to take a temperature reading too? See the best digital thermometers that give quick and accurate results

Omron RS2 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Type Wrist monitor

Need to know Irregular heartbeat detector, blood pressure risk category indicator, carry case

Withings BPM Connect

Most recently tested July 2021

Type Arm monitor

Need to know Data averaging, date time stamp, multiple users, blood pressure risk category indicator, smart technology

How we test blood pressure monitors

• Is this monitor accurate? We take readings using each of the blood pressure monitors and compare them with a manual mercury sphygmomanometer. The mercury sphygmomanometer is considered to be a gold standard measurement and acts as a control in our testing.
• Is it simple to set up and use? Multiple people use the blood pressure monitor, noting down whether there were any issues or helpful features. For example, how easy is it to position your arm correctly, plus any noises you might find annoying, or hard-to-read screens.
• How comfortable is it? We check whether the blood pressure monitor will pinch your arm, pull out any arm hairs or fail to sit well when you're wearing it.
• How fast is it at taking blood pressure readings? We time each blood pressure monitor repeatedly when taking readings on subjects with normal and large arms. We take readings on both arms.

We regularly revisit the blood pressure monitors on sale to see if there are any more popular brands that need testing. If there are, we test them.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

Are there NHS-approved blood pressure monitors?

When we spoke with the Department of Health and Social Care, it confirmed that the NHS does not endorse medical devices.

Our investigation into non-compliant pulse oximeters sold on online marketplaces found uncertified models sold on Amazon, eBay and Wish, falsely claiming these were endorsed by NHS. Plenty didn't have the required CE marks to be sold in the UK, too. 

Even if there are no definitive 'NHS-approved' blood pressure monitors, there are alternatives that come close. Seek out monitors displaying the British Hypertension Society (BHS) logo and CE marking. You could also consult your healthcare provider for recommended blood pressure monitors.

Can you get a free blood pressure monitor from the NHS?

Not anymore. In late 2021, the NHS distributed free blood pressure monitors to 220,000 people diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure as part of the Blood Pressure @home initiative. 

However, in Somerset, every library is equipped with a couple of monitors available for borrowing. Pharmacies also give free checks to those over 40 and eligible. Visit this NHS eligibility tool to find a pharmacy near you, if you qualify for free blood pressure checks.

Blood pressure monitor features to look out for 

• Date and time stamps Some blood pressure monitors record the date and time when a reading is saved. This can help you track your blood pressure over time, identify patterns and trends, and share data easily with a health professional. 
• Blood pressure data averaging Some have a data averaging function, which usually means the machine will average the last three or so readings for you. There are variations on this – for example, showing data on a graph rather than, or as well as, numerically or averaging data over a longer period. Data averaging could be very useful if you're tracking blood pressure over time and sharing results with a health professional or have an additional risk factor, such as diabetes. But if you are a dab hand at Microsoft Excel, you could summarise your data with a spreadsheet or even using an old-fashioned pen and paper.
• Irregular heartbeat detector This will tell you whether you have an arrhythmia: a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Arrhythmia doesn't usually have symptoms, so this may be a feature you'd value in keeping an eye out for potential problems and flagging them with your GP.
• Blood pressure risk indicator This alerts you to whether your blood pressure reading falls within recommended levels, which could be helpful if you’re not having your blood pressure regularly monitored by a health professional or if you don't always remember the recommended limits. 
• Blood pressure monitors that store past readings Some blood pressure monitors collect and store readings for one user, and some can do this for six or more people. The ability to store readings can be useful if you have more than one person with hypertension in your household or want to pool your money for a model with fancier features, rather than have two basic monitors. Out of those models that can store readings, the number of readings they can remember varies but can be up to 60 recordings.
• Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity Some monitors can link wirelessly to your phone or tablet. This is great if you want to view and track your readings electronically and store data across your devices, especially if you already track other health data on your phone or tablet, such as activity levels, calories or weight, and want it all in one place.
  

How to take your blood pressure reading

A home blood pressure monitor has a number of advantages, such as sharing your readings over time with your health professional and seeing how new treatments are working for you. You can also get a more accurate reading as you're more relaxed compared to taking it in a clinic condition.

Before buying a blood pressure monitor, check whether it meets international clinical standards; information can be found via the British Hypertension Society. Also, pregnant women should choose a model validated for pregnancy, while those with arrhythmias should avoid relying solely on automated monitors for accurate readings.

To accurately take your reading, sit down with your arm extended and supported on a chair arm or cushion. Stay calm and relaxed for at least five minutes before taking the reading, and make sure you're not too hot or cold.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly. If you're using a wrist blood pressure monitor, make sure you have the monitor at the specified height as it’s trickier and more inconsistent to hold your wrist monitor in the right position than an arm monitor.

For more information, check NHS blood pressure testing guidelines.

What is a normal blood pressure monitor reading?

If you would like to check what your blood pressure reading means, you can use the NHS check your blood pressure tool or following NHL guidelines as a general rule: 

• Normal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg, whether if it's measured at home or at a pharmacy or GP surgery.
• You may be at risk of developing high blood pressure in the future if your reading is between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg.
• High blood pressure is considered to be 135/85 or higher if your reading was taken at home, or 140/90mmHg or higher if your reading was taken at a pharmacy, GP surgery or clinic.
• Low blood pressure is considered to be 89/59mmHg or lower.