Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculator
Calculate mean arterial pressure from systolic and diastolic readings. Shows MAP, pulse pressure and whether it clears the 65 mmHg perfusion target.
The formula
MAP = diastolic + (systolic − diastolic) / 3, which is the same as (systolic + 2 × diastolic) / 3. Diastole is weighted double because at a normal heart rate the heart spends longer filling than ejecting. It is a bedside approximation and loses accuracy at high heart rates, where diastole is what shortens most.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the systolic and diastolic pressure from the same reading, in mmHg.
- Add the age if you have it: from 65 the suggested initial floor drops to 60 mmHg.
- Read the perfusion band first and the number second — the question MAP answers is whether the organs are being perfused.
- Use the AHA category shown alongside for the high side: hypertension is graded on systolic and diastolic, never on MAP.
FAQ
How is mean arterial pressure calculated?
MAP = diastolic + (systolic − diastolic) / 3, the same as (systolic + 2 × diastolic) / 3. For 120/80 that is 80 + 40/3 ≈ 93.3 mmHg. Diastole is weighted double because at a normal heart rate the heart spends longer filling than ejecting. It is a bedside approximation and loses accuracy at high heart rates, where diastole is what shortens most.
What MAP is high enough?
StatPearls states that perfusing the vital organs requires a minimum MAP of 60 mmHg. In septic shock the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends an initial target of 65 mmHg, and from age 65 suggests an initial range of 60-65 mmHg. Those are resuscitation targets, not a definition of normal.
Can MAP be used to diagnose high blood pressure?
No. Hypertension is defined on systolic and diastolic pressure, not on MAP — two very different readings can share a MAP. That is why this calculator shows the AHA/ACC category alongside: MAP answers whether the organs are being perfused, the category answers whether the pressure is too high.
CalcVita. (2026). Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculator. CalcVita. Retrieved August 31, 2026, from https://calcvita.com/en/calculators/mean-arterial-pressure
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