Mean Arterial Pressure Calculator

How This Calculator Estimates MAP

The most commonly used bedside approximation for mean arterial pressure uses your systolic and diastolic blood pressures:

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP): The peak pressure in your arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood out.
• Diastolic blood pressure (DBP): The lowest pressure in your arteries when the heart relaxes and fills with blood again.

Under typical resting conditions, the heart spends more time in diastole than in systole, so diastolic pressure contributes more to the average. Clinically, this leads to the widely used approximation:

In plain text, the formula is:

MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3

This formula assumes a relatively normal heart rate and rhythm and is accurate enough for many everyday clinical uses. In more complex situations (for example, in certain surgeries or in patients with severe arrhythmias), MAP may be measured directly using an arterial line rather than relying on this approximation.

How to Use the Mean Arterial Pressure Calculator

1. Obtain a recent blood pressure reading, either from a clinic, hospital, or a home monitor that you use correctly and regularly.
2. Enter your systolic blood pressure (SBP) in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) into the first field.
3. Enter your diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in mmHg into the second field.
4. Select the button to calculate your mean arterial pressure.

The calculator will display your MAP in mmHg. Many tools also provide a short, general interpretation (for example, whether the result sits in a typical adult range). This interpretation cannot account for your medical history, medications, or treatment goals.

All fields are required for a meaningful calculation. If one of the values is missing, the formula cannot be applied.

Typical MAP Ranges and Interpreting Results

There is no single “perfect” MAP that applies to everyone, but the following reference ranges are often cited in adult clinical practice:

• Normal adult MAP: roughly 70–100 mmHg for many healthy individuals at rest.
• Minimum perfusion target in critical care: many guidelines use a threshold around 60–65 mmHg to reduce the risk of organ under-perfusion in shock or sepsis. Some patients may require higher targets.
• Very low MAP (< 60 mmHg): may indicate that organs are not receiving enough blood flow, especially if sustained; this can contribute to confusion, chest pain, kidney injury, or other serious problems.
• Very high MAP (> 110–120 mmHg): can reflect severe or poorly controlled hypertension and may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular complications over time.

How to think about your result:

• If your MAP is close to 70–100 mmHg and your blood pressure is otherwise in an acceptable range for you, many clinicians would consider this compatible with adequate organ perfusion. However, individual targets vary.
• If your MAP is consistently below about 60–65 mmHg, especially with symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, or confusion, urgent medical review is important.
• If your MAP is consistently high, it may reflect chronic high blood pressure and should prompt discussion with a clinician, even if you feel well.

Always interpret MAP in context. People with chronic hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, head injury, or sepsis may need higher or lower individualized MAP targets based on specialist guidance.

Worked Example of MAP Calculation

To see how the formula is applied, consider a person with a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg (spoken as “120 over 80”):

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) = 120 mmHg
• Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) = 80 mmHg

Using the standard approximation:

MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3

Step-by-step:

1. Multiply the diastolic pressure by 2: 2 × 80 = 160.
2. Add the systolic pressure: 160 + 120 = 280.
3. Divide by 3 to obtain the mean: 280 / 3 ≈ 93.3 mmHg.

So the estimated mean arterial pressure is approximately 93 mmHg. For a typical healthy adult at rest, this value falls comfortably within the commonly cited normal MAP range of 70–100 mmHg.

Now consider a blood pressure of 90/50 mmHg:

• SBP = 90 mmHg
• DBP = 50 mmHg

Apply the formula:

1. 2 × 50 = 100
2. 100 + 90 = 190
3. 190 / 3 ≈ 63.3 mmHg

The estimated MAP is about 63 mmHg. This is just above the lower threshold (around 60–65 mmHg) that many clinicians use to maintain organ perfusion in acutely ill adults. In a resting, otherwise healthy person, such a blood pressure might be well tolerated, but in an unwell or symptomatic patient it could be concerning. Clinical context is essential.

MAP vs. Systolic, Diastolic, and Pulse Pressure

MAP is part of a broader set of blood pressure measurements. Understanding how it differs from other measures can clarify why clinicians pay so much attention to it.

Pulse pressure (PP) is another common derived value, defined as:

Pulse pressure = SBP − DBP

The table below summarizes key differences between these measures.

SBP and DBP are the numbers you usually see on a home blood pressure monitor. MAP and pulse pressure are calculated from those values to provide additional insight into circulation and vascular health. Clinicians often focus on MAP when deciding if perfusion to vital organs is adequate during serious illness.

Clinical Uses of MAP

Mean arterial pressure is particularly important in the following situations:

• Shock and sepsis: When blood pressure drops due to infection, blood loss, or heart failure, clinicians monitor MAP closely and may give intravenous fluids, vasopressors, or inotropes to keep MAP at or above an agreed target (often at least 65 mmHg in adults).
• Major surgery and anesthesia: During operations, anesthesiologists track MAP to reduce the risk of low perfusion that could damage the brain, heart, kidneys, or spinal cord.
• Head injury and stroke: In certain neurological conditions, both MAP and intracranial pressure are monitored, as the difference between them (cerebral perfusion pressure) helps estimate blood flow to the brain.
• Critical care and intensive monitoring: Patients in ICUs often have invasive arterial lines that provide beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements, allowing direct calculation and continuous display of MAP.

In everyday outpatient care, MAP can help clarify how serious a blood pressure abnormality may be, but it is generally considered alongside symptoms, heart rate, oxygen levels, and many other findings.

Assumptions and Limitations of the MAP Formula

The approximation used by this calculator is widely accepted, but it is based on several important assumptions. These should be kept in mind when interpreting results:

• Normal timing of systole and diastole: The formula assumes that diastole lasts about twice as long as systole, which is typical for a healthy adult at rest. In very fast heart rates (severe tachycardia) this ratio changes and the formula becomes less accurate.
• Regular heart rhythm: For people with irregular rhythms (such as atrial fibrillation or frequent ectopic beats), both SBP and DBP can vary from beat to beat. A single non-invasive reading and an estimated MAP may not reflect the true average over time.
• Accurate blood pressure measurement: Any errors in measuring SBP or DBP (for example, due to a poorly fitting cuff, incorrect positioning, or arm movement) will carry through directly into the MAP estimate.
• Standard adult physiology: The reference values and thresholds quoted here mainly apply to non-pregnant adults. Children, pregnant individuals, and people with complex cardiovascular conditions may have different targets or safety ranges.
• Non-invasive approximation: In high-risk settings, clinicians often prefer invasive arterial monitoring to obtain continuous, highly accurate MAP values rather than relying solely on a non-invasive formula.

Because of these limitations, MAP from this calculator should be treated as an estimate, not a definitive measurement. It is most useful as an educational tool or as a rough guide, not as the basis for making treatment decisions on your own.

Safety Information and When to Seek Help

This tool cannot replace professional medical evaluation. Contact a health professional or emergency services urgently if you experience any of the following, regardless of your MAP value:

• Chest pain or pressure, especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, or back.
• Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or sudden confusion.
• Fainting, feeling as though you may pass out, or severe dizziness.
• Sudden severe headache, vision loss, or seizures.

If you are monitoring blood pressure at home and notice consistently very high or very low readings, or large changes from your usual numbers, arrange prompt follow-up with your clinician to discuss what they might mean for you.

Related Tools and Further Learning

MAP is just one part of understanding blood pressure and circulation. You may also find it helpful to review resources that explain systolic and diastolic blood pressure categories, cardiovascular risk, and how lifestyle changes and medications can affect blood pressure over time.

For a deeper understanding of your own situation, always rely on guidance from your healthcare team. Online calculators can support learning and preparation for consultations, but they cannot replace examinations, laboratory tests, imaging, or continuous monitoring where needed.