Cholesterol Levels Chart: Normal LDL, HDL, Non-HDL & Triglycerides
A cholesterol test (lipid panel) measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. US labs call LDL below 100 mg/dL optimal, total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL desirable and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL normal. The NHS calls total cholesterol below 5 mmol/L and non-HDL below 4 mmol/L healthy, with HDL above 1.0 mmol/L for men and 1.2 mmol/L for women. An LDL of 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or more is very high. Treatment depends on your overall heart risk, not one number.
Units: cholesterol mg/dL × 0.0259 = mmol/L (200 mg/dL is about 5.2 mmol/L). Triglycerides: mg/dL × 0.0113 = mmol/L. Conversion chart.
- LDL below 100
- 100 to 129
- 130 to 189
- 190 and above
- Low HDL
- High triglycerides
- Non-HDL
- mmol/L to mg/dL
- UK vs US
- Do I need to fast?
Where do my cholesterol numbers sit?
Enter any numbers from your report, pick the unit and choose US or UK cut-offs. Everything is worked out on your device, and nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Cholesterol levels chart
LDL is the number most guidelines aim at, so the chart uses it. Top numbers are mg/dL, bottom numbers mmol/L. The rows show where US and UK guidance draw other lines.
Sources: NCEP ATP III, NLA, ACC/AHA 2026, HEART UK, BHF, NICE, Simon Broome criteria; conversions from Labcorp. Full references below.
US cholesterol levels (adults)
| Test | Best | Near optimal or above desirable | Borderline high | High | Very high |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDL | Below 100 (2.6) | 100–129 (2.6–3.3) | 130–159 (3.4–4.1) | 160–189 (4.1–4.9) | 190+ (4.9+) |
| Non-HDL | Below 130 (3.4) | 130–159 (3.4–4.1) | 160–189 (4.1–4.9) | 190–219 (4.9–5.7) | 220+ (5.7+) |
| Total cholesterol | Below 200 (5.2) | No band | 200–239 (5.2–6.2) | 240+ (6.2+) | No band |
| Triglycerides | Below 150 (1.7) | No band | 150–199 (1.7–2.2) | 200–499 (2.3–5.6) | 500+ (5.6+) |
mg/dL first, mmol/L in brackets. Best means optimal (LDL), desirable (total, non-HDL) or normal (triglycerides). Categories: NCEP ATP III (2001) and the National Lipid Association (2015), still printed by many US labs. HDL is low below 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) in men and 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) in women (NLA); 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or more is best (MedlinePlus).
UK healthy cholesterol levels (adults)
| Test | Healthy level | About, in mg/dL | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Below 5 mmol/L | Below 193 | NHS |
| Non-HDL | Below 4 mmol/L | Below 154 | NHS |
| LDL | Below 3.0 mmol/L | Below 116 | HEART UK, BHF |
| HDL | Above 1.0 (men), above 1.2 (women) | Above 39 / 46 | NHS |
| Triglycerides | Below 1.7 fasting, below 2.0 non-fasting | Below 150 / 177 | HEART UK (BHF uses 2.3 non-fasting) |
NHS: “a guide for healthy adults”. Total above 7.5 mmol/L raises the question of familial hypercholesterolaemia (NICE CG71); total above 9.0 or non-HDL above 7.5 means specialist assessment (NG238).
Cholesterol mmol/L to mg/dL (and back)
Labcorp’s SI table gives one factor for all cholesterol numbers and another for triglycerides, whose molecules are heavier:
Cholesterol: mg/dL × 0.0259 = mmol/L. To go back, divide by 0.0259 (about × 38.6).
Triglycerides: mg/dL × 0.0113 = mmol/L. To go back, divide by 0.0113 (about × 88.5).
| mmol/L | Cholesterol, mg/dL | Triglycerides, mg/dL |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 39 | 88 |
| 2.0 | 77 | 177 |
| 2.6 | 100 | 230 |
| 3.0 | 116 | 265 |
| 4.0 | 154 | 354 |
| 5.0 | 193 | 442 |
| 5.5 | 212 | 487 |
| 6.0 | 232 | 531 |
| 7.5 | 290 | 664 |
For other blood tests, use our blood test unit converter.
What a cholesterol test actually tells you
Cholesterol is the cargo. Lipoproteins are the vans that carry it, and a lipid panel is a roadside count of what’s on board. High cholesterol rarely causes symptoms, so only a blood test finds it (NHS).
- Total cholesterol: all of it. Risk tools use it with HDL (NICE NG238).
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: the main source of build-up and blockage in arteries (MedlinePlus). Usually calculated, not measured.
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol: helps remove cholesterol from arteries (MedlinePlus). Low is the problem.
- Non-HDL cholesterol: total minus HDL. It counts all the “bad” types, including LDL and VLDL (MedlinePlus). NICE uses it for targets, and the 2026 US guideline brought back non-HDL goals.
- Triglycerides: a different blood fat that can also raise heart risk (MedlinePlus). They rise after meals, and very high levels can inflame the pancreas.
What your LDL number means
LDL is the main suspect, so four case files follow it, then HDL and triglycerides. Each gives the clues, usual suspects, next lead and questions.
LDL below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)
Optimal (NCEP), and below the UK healthy level of 3.0 mmol/L.
- Very high triglycerides make a calculated LDL less reliable
- Blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and Lp(a) add risk of their own
Your HDL and non-HDL, and whether you’ve had a one-time lipoprotein(a) test. With heart disease or diabetes, your target may be lower.
Ask: Do my other risk factors change anything? When should I be retested?
LDL 100 to 129 mg/dL (2.6 to 3.3 mmol/L)
Near optimal (NCEP) or above desirable (NLA). In UK terms, up to 2.9 mmol/L (about 112 mg/dL) is still below the 3.0 healthy level.
- Saturated fat, extra weight, inactivity (MedlinePlus; NHS)
- Genes, and a slow rise with age
Decisions rest on your overall risk score (see treatment and risk). For people treated at borderline or intermediate US risk, the 2026 goal is below 100 mg/dL.
Ask: What’s my overall risk? Is lifestyle change enough for now?
LDL 130 to 189 mg/dL (3.4 to 4.9 mmol/L)
130 to 159 is borderline high and 160 to 189 high (NCEP). In the UK, it’s above the healthy level.
- Diet, weight and genes
- An underactive thyroid (TSH levels)
- Nephrotic syndrome or cholestatic liver disease
- Medicines such as thiazides or retinoids (Merck)
UK: a statin is offered at a QRISK3 10-year risk of 10% or more (NG238). US: young adults whose LDL stays at 160 or more can be considered for treatment (ACC/AHA 2026).
Ask: What’s my risk score? Have secondary causes been ruled out? Before a statin, NICE checks diabetes, kidney and liver tests, and TSH if you have thyroid symptoms.
LDL 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or higher
The 2026 US guideline calls this severe hypercholesterolemia and recommends a statin without first calculating risk. An inherited cause becomes a real possibility.
- Total cholesterol raised too
- Early heart disease in you or close relatives
- Tendon xanthomata (fatty lumps on tendons)
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), an inherited condition
- Secondary causes, which are ruled out first (NICE CG71)
A formal FH assessment: Simon Broome criteria (adult LDL above 4.9 or total above 7.5 mmol/L) or a Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score, where above 5 leads to DNA testing (CG71).
US: genetic testing can help find FH (ACC/AHA 2026). UK: suspect FH when total is above 7.5 mmol/L (CG71), and skip risk calculators (NG238).
Ask: Could this be FH? Should I see a lipid specialist? Should my relatives be tested?
HDL below 40 mg/dL (men) or 50 mg/dL (women)
About 1.0 and 1.3 mmol/L. The NHS healthy level is above 1.0 mmol/L for men and above 1.2 for women.
- Smoking
- Diabetes, often with high triglycerides
- Anabolic steroids, HIV, nephrotic syndrome (Merck)
Your triglycerides and a blood sugar test. Insulin resistance is worth asking about.
Ask: Is my low HDL part of a wider pattern?
Triglycerides 150 to 499 mg/dL (1.7 to 5.6 mmol/L)
Borderline high to 199, high from 200 (NCEP). HEART UK’s healthy lines: below 1.7 mmol/L fasting, 2.0 non-fasting. ACC/AHA 2026 links 150 mg/dL or more with higher heart risk.
- A meal before the test
- Alcohol, diabetes, extra weight
- Kidney disease or hypothyroidism
- Thiazides, beta-blockers, retinoids, oral estrogens (Merck)
A fasting repeat and a diabetes check. Non-HDL matters more here.
Ask: Should we repeat this fasting? Could alcohol, blood sugar or a medicine explain it?
Triglycerides 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or higher
Now the worry is acute pancreatitis. Sources draw the danger line in different places:
- Merck: above 500 mg/dL can cause pancreatitis.
- EAS/EFLM: above 10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) is life-threatening.
- ACC/AHA 2026: treat to prevent pancreatitis, especially at 1,000 mg/dL (11.3 mmol/L) or more.
- NICE: 10 to 20 mmol/L means a fasting repeat within 2 weeks; above 20, urgent specialist review.
Common drivers: alcohol, uncontrolled diabetes, medicines. Treatment starts with cutting alcohol and added sugar; doctors may add a fibrate or prescription omega-3 (ACC/AHA 2026). See our omega-3 index guide.
Ask: How soon should this be repeated? What’s my plan to lower pancreatitis risk?
Your numbers together: the patterns
| Pattern | What it often points to |
|---|---|
| High triglycerides, low HDL | The pattern Merck describes in diabetes. Worth checking blood sugar and insulin resistance. |
| High LDL and high triglycerides | Secondary causes: alcohol, uncontrolled diabetes, hypothyroidism, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome (NICE NG238). |
| Normal LDL, high non-HDL | Extra cholesterol rides in triglyceride-rich particles. Non-HDL or apoB tells your doctor more (ACC/AHA 2026). |
| All healthy, but heart disease runs young in your family | Ask about a one-time Lp(a) test (HEART UK). |
Do I need treatment? It depends on your overall risk
Cholesterol is one clue. Treatment decisions add up all of them, including age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and kidney function. This page doesn’t estimate your risk.
- UK (NICE NG238, 2023): QRISK3. A statin is offered at a 10-year risk of 10% or more, aiming to cut non-HDL by more than 40%. No risk tool is used in type 1 diabetes, kidney disease (eGFR below 60 or albuminuria) or FH.
- US (ACC/AHA 2026, replacing the 2018 guideline): PREVENT replaces the Pooled Cohort Equations (ages 30 to 79). At a 10-year risk of 3% to under 5%, treatment can be considered; at 5% to under 10%, it should be, after discussion. LDL of 190 or more, or diabetes, chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or 4) or HIV at 40 to 75, means treatment without a score.
| Who | LDL goal | Non-HDL goal |
|---|---|---|
| US, borderline or intermediate risk | Below 100 mg/dL (2.6) | Below 130 mg/dL (3.4) |
| US, high risk | Below 70 mg/dL (1.8) | Below 100 mg/dL (2.6) |
| US, very high-risk heart or artery disease | Below 55 mg/dL (1.4) | Below 85 mg/dL (2.2) |
| UK, with heart or artery disease (NICE) | 2.0 mmol/L or less (77) | 2.6 mmol/L or less (100) |
What can throw off a cholesterol result
- Very high triglycerides. Most labs calculate LDL. The old Friedewald formula isn’t valid above 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) (NLA). The Sampson (NIH) equation works up to 800 mg/dL (Sampson 2020), and the 2026 US guideline recommends it or Martin/Hopkins. Depending on the formula, LDL may not be reported above 4.5 or 9 mmol/L (NICE). Non-HDL can still be used.
- Illness, some medicines or a recent baby can push levels up or down (NHS).
- An underactive thyroid. A recognised secondary cause that NICE asks to exclude before specialist referral. See TSH levels.
- Other secondary causes. Uncontrolled diabetes, kidney or liver disease (see liver enzymes), excess alcohol (NICE NG238; Merck).
- A unit mix-up. 5.2 mmol/L is not 5.2 mg/dL, and triglycerides use their own factor.
Do you need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Usually not. NICE doesn’t require a fasting sample, the NHS says eating makes little difference to cholesterol, the European Atherosclerosis Society recommends routine non-fasting tests (2016), and the 2026 US guideline accepts either. Fasting matters when triglycerides are high: above 400 mg/dL (ACC/AHA 2026), above 5 mmol/L non-fasting (EAS) or 10 to 20 mmol/L (NICE). Sources disagree here: MedlinePlus still says you’ll usually fast 9 to 12 hours. Follow your clinic’s instructions.
Lipoprotein(a): the one-time test
Lp(a) is a cholesterol-carrying particle missing from a standard panel. Lifestyle barely changes it, so one test is usually enough. ACC/AHA 2026, ESC/EAS 2025 and the NLA (2024) advise measuring it at least once in adulthood; ACC/AHA counts 125 nmol/L (50 mg/dL) or more as a risk enhancer. HEART UK (2019) targets testing at people with early heart disease in themselves or the family, FH or borderline risk. More in our lipoprotein(a) guide.
Children and pregnancy
Children and teenagers
Healthy levels to age 19 (MedlinePlus): total below 170 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L), LDL below 110 (2.8), non-HDL below 120 (3.1), HDL above 45 (1.2). US screening starts at 9 to 11, or from 2 with a family history (NHLBI). UK FH criteria for children: total above 6.7 or LDL above 4.0 mmol/L.
Pregnancy
Lipids rise naturally. By the third trimester, total cholesterol can be about 50% higher, LDL 30 to 40% higher and triglycerides 2 to 3 times higher, falling back after the birth (Endotext 2026). Tests aren’t routine in pregnancy, and most cholesterol medicines are paused when trying to conceive, in pregnancy and while breastfeeding (ACC/AHA 2026).
Why do UK and US cholesterol numbers look different?
US reports print NCEP or NLA tiers; UK pages give one healthy line per test. They don’t always match:
- Total 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL): above the NHS healthy level, and borderline high in the US.
- LDL 2.9 mmol/L (112 mg/dL): a healthy level in the UK, near optimal in the US.
- Non-fasting triglycerides 2.1 mmol/L: above HEART UK’s line (2.0) and below the BHF’s (2.3).
Neither is wrong. Both agree treatment rests on your overall risk.
Reading cholesterol on your lab report or app
- Names: lipid panel or (full) lipid profile. LDL may say “calculated”, “NIH equation” or “direct”.
- Units: mg/dL in the US, mmol/L in the UK. See the conversion table.
- Ratio: a total cholesterol to HDL ratio, if shown, is only needed for QRISK (HEART UK).
- Flags: “H” or “L” only means outside that lab’s range or category.
- Apps: US portals often show results before your clinician comments; the NHS App may add a GP note.
When to get help urgently
- Chest pain that feels tight or squeezing, or spreads to your arms, neck or jaw: call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) (NHS; AHA).
- Sudden, severe tummy pain that spreads to your back, or comes with a fast heartbeat or difficulty breathing: call 999 or go to A&E (NHS), or call 911. Very high triglycerides can cause pancreatitis.
- Triglycerides above 20 mmol/L (about 1,770 mg/dL): NICE advises urgent specialist review, so contact your doctor promptly.
Cholesterol questions people ask
What is a normal cholesterol level?
US: total below 200 mg/dL is desirable and LDL below 100 mg/dL optimal. NHS: total below 5 mmol/L and non-HDL below 4 mmol/L are healthy, with HDL above 1.0 (men) or 1.2 (women). US guidance calls HDL below 40 mg/dL (men) or 50 (women) low.
What is a good LDL cholesterol level?
Below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) in the US, below 3.0 mmol/L in the UK. With heart disease, targets are lower: 2.0 mmol/L or less (NICE), or below 70 or 55 mg/dL (ACC/AHA 2026).
What is non-HDL cholesterol?
Total cholesterol minus HDL: all the “bad” types together. The NHS healthy level is below 4 mmol/L; US labs call below 130 mg/dL desirable.
How do I convert cholesterol from mmol/L to mg/dL?
Divide by 0.0259 (about × 38.6), so 5.0 mmol/L is about 193 mg/dL. For triglycerides, divide by 0.0113.
Is a cholesterol of 5.5 mmol/L high?
5.5 mmol/L is about 212 mg/dL: above the NHS healthy level and borderline high in US terms. Treatment depends on your overall risk score.
Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
Usually not (NICE; NHS). You may be asked to fast if your triglycerides were high before.
What triglyceride level is dangerous?
Very high levels can cause pancreatitis. Sources set the line between 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and 1,000 mg/dL (11.3 mmol/L). NICE wants urgent specialist review above 20 mmol/L.
How we wrote this page
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Mustafa Sakr, MBBCh. Last reviewed: October 2026. The numbers come from current guidelines (ACC/AHA 2026, NICE, ESC/EAS), the NHS, HEART UK and lab categories, listed below. We update this page when guidance changes.
How the checker works: it converts values with Labcorp’s factors (0.0259 for cholesterol, 0.0113 for triglycerides) and compares them with US categories (NCEP ATP III, NLA) or UK healthy levels (NHS, HEART UK, NICE). It works out non-HDL from total and HDL, uses sex only for HDL, and flags levels where guidelines suggest asking about familial hypercholesterolaemia or urgent review. Your lab’s limits replace the healthy line. Values that look like the wrong unit get a hint. It never estimates heart risk, and nothing is stored or sent.
References
- Blumenthal RS, Morris PB, et al. 2026 ACC/AHA multisociety Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. Circulation and JACC, March 2026. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423 · AHA summary · ACC summary
- Feingold KR. Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia. Endotext, updated May 2026. NCBI Bookshelf
- NICE. Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification (NG238), 2023. nice.org.uk (PDF)
- NICE. Familial hypercholesterolaemia (CG71), updated 2019; Derbyshire NHS, Simon Broome criteria, 2023. NICE (PDF) · Derbyshire (PDF)
- NHS. High cholesterol pages, 2026. Overview · Levels · Testing
- HEART UK. Understanding your cholesterol test results, 2025; British Heart Foundation, Understanding your cholesterol levels, 2024. heartuk.org.uk · bhf.org.uk
- NCEP. ATP III Guidelines At-A-Glance, NHLBI, 2001. nhlbi.nih.gov (PDF)
- Jacobson TA, et al. NLA Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia: Part 1. J Clin Lipidol 2015. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2015.02.003
- MedlinePlus. Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know, 2026; NHLBI, Blood Cholesterol: Diagnosis, 2024. medlineplus.gov · nhlbi.nih.gov
- Nordestgaard BG, et al. Fasting is not routinely required for determination of a lipid profile (EAS/EFLM). Clin Chem 2016;62(7):930–946. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2016.258897
- Sampson M, et al. A New Equation for Calculation of LDL Cholesterol. JAMA Cardiol 2020. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.0013
- Lp(a): ESC/EAS 2025 dyslipidaemia focused update, Eur Heart J 2025 (doi); Cegla J, et al. HEART UK consensus statement, Atherosclerosis 2019;291:62–70 (doi); NLA focused update, 2024 (lipid.org).
- Labcorp and Mayo Clinic Laboratories. SI unit conversion tables. labcorp.com · mayocliniclabs.com
- Merck Manual Professional Version. Dyslipidemia, 2025. merckmanuals.com
- Wild R, Feingold KR. Effect of Pregnancy on Lipid Metabolism and Lipoprotein Levels. Endotext, updated January 2026. endotext.org (PDF)
- NHS, Heart attack and Acute pancreatitis, 2026; AHA, Warning Signs of a Heart Attack. Heart attack · Pancreatitis · heart.org
This page is for education only and isn’t medical advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for your own doctor, who knows your history. Reference ranges vary between laboratories. Always interpret results with a qualified clinician. See our medical disclaimer.
