Cholesterol Units Converter
Convert cholesterol and triglyceride results between mg/dL and mmol/L, and see the usual categories.
About the Cholesterol Units Converter
Pick the measurement, the unit on your lab report and the value. The calculator converts it to the other unit and shows the adult category it falls in, which helps when a report, an article or a doctor in another country uses different units.
The US reports lipids in mg/dL; the UK, Canada, Australia and Europe use mmol/L. The factor differs because the molecules differ: cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL) uses 38.67 and triglycerides 88.57. Categories follow the US National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP III).
The formula
Cholesterol: mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 38.67; triglycerides: mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 88.57
How to read your result
- For HDL, higher is better; for total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, lower is better.
- Your doctor sets your own target from your overall cardiovascular risk, which can be stricter than these general categories.
Worked example
Total cholesterol 200 mg/dL and triglycerides 150 mg/dL
- 200 ÷ 38.67 = 5.17 mmol/L
- 150 ÷ 88.57 = 1.69 mmol/L
- Back the other way: 5.5 mmol/L × 38.67 = 213 mg/dL
Things to keep in mind
- Converts units and shows general adult categories only; it does not interpret your results or replace medical advice.
- Triglycerides are usually measured fasting; a non-fasting result can read higher.
Questions people ask
What's 5 mmol/L in mg/dL?
About 193 mg/dL for cholesterol.
Is non-HDL cholesterol useful?
Yes: total minus HDL; it includes all the 'bad' particles.
Why are cholesterol and triglycerides converted differently?
mg/dL measures weight and mmol/L measures number of molecules, and a triglyceride molecule is heavier than a cholesterol molecule.