Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculator
Calculate Mean Arterial Pressure from systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, with clinical range categorisation.
Results
What is it?
DISCLAIMER: For educational and reference purposes only. All clinical decisions must be made by qualified healthcare professionals. Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) is the average arterial pressure throughout one cardiac cycle. It is a better indicator of perfusion to vital organs than systolic blood pressure alone. The clinical approximation formula is MAP = (SBP + 2 x DBP) / 3, which weights diastolic pressure double because the heart spends approximately two-thirds of the cardiac cycle in diastole. Normal MAP: 70-100 mmHg. A MAP below 60 mmHg is considered critical — it indicates inadequate perfusion pressure to vital organs (brain, kidneys, heart) and is a trigger for urgent intervention in critical care.
How to use
Enter the systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) readings from a blood pressure measurement. The calculator displays MAP, pulse pressure, and a clinical category. MAP is routinely used in intensive care, anaesthesia, and sepsis management protocols.
Example scenario
Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg: MAP = (120 + 2 x 80) / 3 = 280 / 3 = 93.3 mmHg — in the normal range (70-100). Pulse pressure = 120 - 80 = 40 mmHg (normal range 40-60 mmHg). A patient with BP 88/60 would have MAP = (88 + 120) / 3 = 69.3 mmHg — borderline low, warranting close monitoring.
Pro tip
In sepsis management (Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines), MAP greater than or equal to 65 mmHg is a key resuscitation target. For patients with chronic hypertension, a MAP greater than 65 mmHg may still be insufficient for adequate organ perfusion — clinical context matters. Continuous arterial line monitoring provides beat-to-beat MAP in critical care settings.