Which arm should you use to measure your blood pressure?

Measure blood pressure on the right or left?

In general, blood pressure can be measured in either arm. The assumption that blood pressure must be measured in the left arm because it is closer to the heart is incorrect. Firstly, the heart is normally located in the center of the chest; only the tip of the heart is positioned slightly to the left in most people. Secondly, the blood vessels supplying both the left and right arms originate from the aortic arch.

For measurement, preference should be given to the arm that shows higher values in comparative measurements. To determine which arm has the higher values, measurements should be taken on both arms several times - especially when high blood pressure is first diagnosed - so that the arm with the higher readings can be used for future measurements.

Differences between the two arms are usually due to different muscle density or higher muscle tension in one arm.

However, if the readings in one arm are significantly higher than in the other, this may indicate vascular disease.

Differences of up to 10 mmHg in the systolic (upper) reading are still considered normal. If the readings differ by more than 10 mmHg, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may be the cause. In that case, the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs are narrowed. The advanced stage of the disease is known as "shop window disease." Because walking is painful at this stage, affected people repeatedly take breaks and use them to look at shop window displays.

However, if the differences are greater than 15 mmHg, the risk of having a cerebrovascular condition (a disease affecting the brain's blood vessels) also increases by about 60 percent.

So if you repeatedly notice differences of more than 10 mmHg between your arms during home comparison measurements, please discuss this with your doctor. They can decide whether further investigation is necessary.

In Tensana you can record the measurement site (right/left wrist or right/left upper arm). A statistical overview then shows average values separately for each measurement site.

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This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 11/2025).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.

We hope you found the article helpful. Accurate measurements are essential for good blood pressure control. Our app Tensana can help with that. Clear instructions walk you through taking measurements according to current guidelines. The app can also remind you if you wish. These features are fully available in the free version as well. Get the free app now.

Which arm should you use to measure your blood pressure?

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