What do my blood oxygen levels mean?

Jul 11, 2022 • 2 min read

Normal oxygen saturation levels depend on whether or not you have conditions that can affect your usual baseline, such as lung disease, as well as what altitude you are at, if abroad!

As a rule of thumb though, levels at about 96% and above are considered ‘normal’ for most people.

Of course, it shouldn’t be taken as a blanket reassurance, as depending on symptoms or activity level, further medical attention may still be appropriate.

For those who don’t have lung disease and are expected to have normal oxygen levels, NHS advice is to seek emergency medical attention if levels fall to 92% or below by ringing 999 or attending your local A&E department.

Also, if levels drop to 93% or 94% or keep being lower than normal you should seek medical attention by contacting your GP or NHS 111.

What is a normal blood oxygen level?

An SpO₂ reading of 96% or more is generally considered to be a normal oxygen level. An SpO₂ reading of 92% or less could indicate that your blood is poorly saturated.  Insufficient saturation can cause issues such as chest pain, shortness of breath and increased heart rate.

Oxygen levels of 92% or less are considered abnormally low and usually would be classed as a medical emergency.

To understand what your SpO₂ reading means and to get tailored advice from Kinetik Wellbeing’s Dr Katie Stephens please enter the reading from your pulse oximeter into the box below.

Can I check my blood oxygen (SpO₂) levels at home?

Yes!  Using a Finger Pulse Oximeter, which is a small device that is attached to your finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood travelling round your body.  The Oximeter takes an SpO₂ reading – an estimation of the amount of oxygen in your blood. 

Oxygen is carried around your body in your red blood cells by a molecule called haemoglobin. A finger Pulse Oximeter measures how much oxygen the haemoglobin in your blood is carrying. This is called the oxygen saturation and is a percentage (scored out of 100).

If you are wondering how a pulse oximeter can help an older adults, then our helpful guide explains more.

Find out about the Which? Best Buy awarded Kinetik Wellbeing Pulse Oximeter here.

References

• ^{Michael W Sjoding et al, Racial Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurement. N Engl J Med 2020; 383:2477-2478}
• ^{https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2029240<https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-at-home/faqs-for-for-covid-virtual-wards-and-covid-oximetry-home/}
• ^{https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/breathing-tests/tests-measure-oxygen-levels}
• ^{https://www.kinetikwellbeing.com/blood-oxygen-sp02-calculator/}