Cholesterol Units Converter

Created by Małgorzata Koperska, MD
Reviewed by Bogna Szyk and Steven Wooding
Based on research by
Nordestgaard BG, Langsted A, Mora S, Kolovou G, Baum H, Bruckert E, Watts GF, Sypniewska G, Wiklund O, Borén J, Chapman MJ, Cobbaert C, Descamps OS, von Eckardstein A, Kamstrup PR, Pulkki K, Kronenberg F, Remaley AT, Rifai N, Ros E, Langlois M; European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Fasting is not routinely required for determination of a lipid profile: clinical and laboratory implications including flagging at desirable concentration cut-points-a joint consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.; European Heart Journal; July 2016
Last updated: Nov 21, 2023


This calculator converts cholesterol units from the popularly used mg/dL to the SI units mmol/L. It works for total serum cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides.

Converting cholesterol levels measurement units by yourself can be overwhelming, so read on to understand how our cholesterol calculator works and what unit cholesterol is measured in.

It looks like you just had your cholesterol levels checked. If you're interested in using them to assess your heart disease risks and general health condition, check out our cholesterol ratio calculator.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that all adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol checked every four to six years and work with their healthcare providers to determine their risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

What unit is cholesterol measured in?

The typical measurement units for cholesterol levels is milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Millimoles per liter (mmol/L) is the standard medical unit for measuring concentrations of substances in the blood. Canada and some European countries use this unit.

Various publications use either one or the other unit, and it can be confusing to understand the guidelines. Our cholesterol calculator is here to help you.

How do I convert mmol/L to mg/dL?

  • To convert cholesterol units of TC (total cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) from mmol/L to mg/dL, you need to multiply by 38.67.

  • To convert cholesterol units of TG (triglycerides) from mmol/L to mg/dL, you need to multiply by 88.57.

How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?

  • To convert cholesterol units of TC (total cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) from mg/dL to mmol/L, you need to multiply by 0.02586.

  • To convert cholesterol units of TG (triglycerides) from mg/dL to mmol/L, you need to multiply by 0.01129.

How does this cholesterol calculator work?

Omni's cholesterol calculator is really simple to operate:

  1. Note there are two parts of the calculator: one for TC/HDL/LDL and the other for TG.
  2. Input the measurement results you have, paying attention to the units.
  3. The conversion happens immediately: you can see the results right away.

You may also have had your glucose level assessed. If you need a hand with glucose units, see our blood sugar converter.

FAQ

What is my LDL level in mg/dL if it is 2.8 mmol/L?

The answer is 108.28 mg/dL. This is because the conversion factor from mmol/L to mg/dL for LDL equals 38.67, so we have 2.8 × 38.67 = 108.28. The same method works for HDL and total cholesterol (TC).

Małgorzata Koperska, MD
Total serum cholesterol, HDL or LDL
mg/dL
mmol/L
Triglycerides
mg/dL
mmol/L
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