Blood pressure screening: who needs it and how often

When it starts, when it can stop

Starts: At 18. Every 3 to 5 years until 39 if readings are normal and there is no added risk; every year from 40. (USPSTF, 2021)
Can stop: The USPSTF sets no upper age limit. The grade A applies to all adults 18 or older. (USPSTF, 2021)

Who it is for

Adults 18 years or older without known high blood pressure. (USPSTF, 2021)

Test and how often

Every year for adults 40 or older, and for younger adults at increased risk: Black adults, people with high-normal blood pressure, and people with overweight or obesity. (USPSTF, 2021)
Every 3 to 5 years for adults 18 to 39 who are not at increased risk and had a normal reading before. (USPSTF, 2021)
Screening starts with an office reading. Before treatment, the USPSTF recommends confirming it outside the clinic, with a 24-hour monitor or home readings on a validated cuff. (USPSTF, 2021)

How often to check your blood pressure, by age

How often the USPSTF suggests blood pressure screening, by age and risk
Who	How often
Adults 18 to 39, not at increased risk, with a normal reading before	Every 3 to 5 years
Adults 18 to 39 at increased risk (Black adults, high-normal blood pressure, overweight or obesity)	Every year
Adults 40 or older	Every year

The USPSTF notes that evidence on the best interval is limited; these intervals are based on the best evidence it found. (USPSTF, 2021)

A high office reading is not a diagnosis on its own. The USPSTF says readings outside the clinic, with a 24-hour (ambulatory) monitor or a validated home cuff, should confirm it before treatment starts. Home readings are taken much less often than ambulatory ones, for example 1 to 2 times a day or a week. (USPSTF, 2021)

If you already have high blood pressure, how often to check is a question for your doctor; this schedule is for screening people who do not.

With high or elevated blood pressure, counseling on healthy eating and activity is also recommended. Read more: healthy eating and activity counseling.

With a BMI of 30 or higher, the USPSTF also recommends an intensive weight-loss program built on diet and activity. Read more: weight-loss programs for a BMI of 30 or higher.

What the numbers mean: see the American Heart Association ranges on Know your numbers.

Questions people ask

How often should you check your blood pressure?

For screening, the USPSTF suggests every year from 40, and every year at any adult age if you are at increased risk. Adults 18 to 39 who are not at increased risk and had a normal reading before can be checked every 3 to 5 years. (USPSTF, 2021)

Who counts as increased risk?

The USPSTF gives as examples Black adults, people with high-normal blood pressure, and people with overweight or obesity. Those adults are suggested a yearly check even before 40. (USPSTF, 2021)

Is one high reading at the doctor enough for a diagnosis?

No. The USPSTF recommends confirming a high office reading with measurements outside the clinic, either a 24-hour ambulatory monitor or home readings on a validated device, before starting treatment. (USPSTF, 2021)

Should I check my blood pressure at home?

The USPSTF lists home monitoring with a validated, automated upper-arm device as one way to confirm a high office reading. Ask your doctor how often to measure and what to do with the numbers. (USPSTF, 2021)

Source

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, "Hypertension in Adults: Screening", final recommendation released April 27, 2021. Read it on uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Checked against the live page on 2026-10-27.