Taking my blood pressure is always nerve wracking. I do not have any risk factors for high blood pressure (hypertension), but the slow tightening of the cuff makes me very aware of my heart rate, and I get nervous.
One thing that has made me more comfortable is my at home blood pressure monitor. It was an impulse buy, but using it and learning about blood pressure generally has made the entire experience less tense.
The American Heart Association recommends home blood pressure monitoring for anyone with high blood pressure. But it’s useful for everyone to know their blood pressure, says Dr. Heather Viola, a primary care physician at Mount Sinai Doctors Ansonia — tracking your blood pressure can help catch early signs of hypertension, which is often asymptomatic.
We explain more about home blood pressure monitors, how to shop for one and how to use one below.
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Why is blood pressure important?
Blood pressure is a key indicator of heart and circulatory system health — it can tell you how much force your blood is exerting against the walls of your arteries, says Viola. Consistently high or low blood pressure can be a signal of underlying health issues, such as heart disease, kidney problems or hormonal imbalances.
Even if you are healthy, tracking blood pressure can help you catch early signs of hypertension (high blood pressure), which is often asymptomatic until the damage is done. It’s especially important for people with risk factors that may increase the likelihood of high blood pressure such as a familial history of hypertension, being overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or heavy alcohol use or diabetes and kidney dysfunction, says Viola.
Are home blood pressure monitors accurate?
A validated, FDA-cleared home blood pressure monitor, used correctly, can give accurate readings. Viola recommends shopping for independently validated monitors approved by medical organizations like Validated Device Listings, and bringing your home blood pressure monitor to your next doctor’s appointment to compare results between your device and your doctor’s for accuracy.
How we picked top-rated home blood pressure monitors
There are dozens of blood pressure monitors on online marketplaces, ranging in price from $15 to nearly $200. Most devices look similar, so it can be hard to know how each one is different. We narrowed down and selected quality blood pressure monitors by keeping the following criteria in mind:
- FDA-cleared: We only considered blood pressure monitors cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA-cleared products are compared to already-cleared medical devices on the market for substantial equivalence.
- Validations: We selected monitors with at least one independent third party validation from medical or scientific organizations like Validated Device Listings, Stride BP and Hypertension Canada.
- Top rated: We selected models with at least a 4.0-star average rating from over a thousand reviews on online storefronts like Amazon.
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Top rated home blood pressure monitors in 2025
Our top picks largely come from health equipment manufacturers like Omron and A&D Medical. We list details like validations, cuff size, number of readings stored and app connectivity under the “What to know” dropdown.
Best overall
This monitor from Omron is simple, effective and competitively priced, especially for the features. It has a large display with a simple design and easy to use start/stop button. It only stores 14 readings on the device — I would download the Omron connect app to sync the device to your phone and store unlimited readings to better track your trends.
Best for multiple users
If multiple people in your household want to use the same blood pressure monitor, you’ll need one that has multiple users built-in, like this model from A&D Medical. It can store up to 60 readings for up to four users.
It cannot connect or sync to your phone, however, so you’ll have to log measurements manually if you want to keep track of your trends past 60 readings.
Best smart connected
Withings is best known for tech-y health gadgets like smart scales and smartwatches. The brand’s blood pressure monitor fits that trend: it can connect to your devices via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and uses the Withings app to show data and trends for up to eight users.
I would only recommend this monitor if you are okay with using the Withings app — otherwise, it only stores eight readings for one user locally on the device.
Best with an EKG
This blood pressure monitor is also a single-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), and can analyze EKG readings for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia and tachycardia, according to the brand. It can store up to 90 readings for one person on the device, and can sync to your phone and the Omron connect app to store more.
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How to use a blood pressure monitor
Regardless of the blood pressure monitor you use, it’s important to know how to properly take blood pressure readings, or else your results may not be very accurate. Below are steps to take to get a more accurate reading, according to Viola:
Before a blood pressure reading:
- Avoid caffeine, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes.
- Empty your bladder.
- Immediately before the reading, rest for a few minutes in a quiet space.
During a blood pressure reading:
- Place the cuff on bare skin, not over your clothes.
- Sit upright, with your back supported, feet flat on the floor and arm supported at heart level.
- Do not move or talk.
You can read more about home blood pressure measurement instruction from the American Heart Association.
Meet our expert
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Heather Viola, DO, is a primary care physician at Mount Sinai Doctors Ansonia.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on air purifiers, smart scales and walking shoes. For this piece, I spoke with a medical professional to better understand how to use blood pressure monitors at home, and how to shop for a reliable model online.
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