White Coat Syndrome: How to Check at Home
A 7-day home record to take to your doctor, with a free printable sheet.
Test sheet PDF (US Letter)Test sheet PDF (A4)
White coat hypertension, also called white coat syndrome, means your blood pressure is high at the doctor's office but normal elsewhere. The usual way to look into it is to measure outside the clinic. This 7-day home record gives your doctor that information.
Only a healthcare professional can tell you whether you have white coat hypertension. If you take blood pressure medication, do not stop or change it because of your home readings.
Before you start
- Tell your doctor you plan to do this. They may prefer a 24-hour ambulatory monitor, which the 2025 US guideline favors for out-of-office readings.
- Use a validated upper-arm monitor with a cuff that fits. Check it on the US device list or STRIDE BP.
- Read our measuring mistakes guide, because poor technique can make readings look high.
The 7-day home test
- Measure for 7 days in a row, morning and evening, at about the same times.
- Morning: before food, coffee and medication.
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes before each set of readings.
- Take 2 readings, 1 minute apart, and write down both.
- Record everything, including readings that seem too high or too low.
How to work out your result
Many guides, including those from the UK and Germany, leave out the first day because readings tend to run higher while you get used to the routine. Average the rest. Our blood pressure average calculator can do this for you.
Then compare your clinic reading with your home average. A pattern of high clinic readings with normal home readings is what your doctor will be looking for. Home thresholds differ by country: US guidance uses 130/80, while UK guidance uses 135/85 for most adults.
What the result might mean
| Clinic | Home | Possible pattern |
|---|---|---|
| High | Normal | White coat hypertension |
| High | High | Sustained high blood pressure |
| Normal | High | Masked hypertension |
| Normal | Normal | Normal blood pressure |
Masked hypertension is the reverse of white coat: your numbers look fine at the clinic but run high in daily life. It is another reason home readings are useful.
Is white coat hypertension harmless?
Not necessarily. Current US guidance does not recommend medication for white coat hypertension alone, but people with it may be more likely to develop sustained high blood pressure later. Your doctor may ask you to keep checking at home from time to time.
If a reading is above 180/120: wait at least 1 minute and measure again. If it is still that high, contact your healthcare professional right away. If you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or difficulty speaking, call emergency services.
Sources
Last updated October 31, 2026
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your blood pressure.