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Cholesterol Calculator

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Enter your lipid panel results to check each value against standard reference ranges (NCEP ATP III), plus your Total/HDL ratio.

Cholesterol Calculator

Live
Total cholesterolDesirable
LDLOptimal
HDLNormal
TriglyceridesNormal
Total/HDL ratio3.80 (Average)
Based on NCEP ATP III reference ranges. This is informational only - not a diagnosis. Discuss your full lipid panel with a doctor.

The reference ranges

Total cholesterol: under 200 Desirable, 200-239 Borderline High, 240+ High LDL ("bad"): under 100 Optimal, 100-129 Near Optimal, 130-159 Borderline High, 160-189 High, 190+ Very High HDL ("good"): under 40 (men) / under 50 (women) Low, 40-59/50-59 Normal, 60+ High (protective) Triglycerides: under 150 Normal, 150-199 Borderline High, 200-499 High, 500+ Very High Total/HDL ratio = Total cholesterol / HDL Under 3.5: Ideal - 3.5 to 5.0: Average - Over 5.0: High Risk
Example

Total cholesterol 190, HDL 50: ratio = 190/50 = 3.80, in the Average range - even though the total cholesterol alone reads as Desirable, the ratio adds a second angle on your risk.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Get a full lipid panel from a blood test - this calculator needs all four values (total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) for the complete picture.
  2. Enter each value in mg/dL along with your sex, since the HDL threshold differs between men and women.
  3. Review each category, plus your Total/HDL ratio - a useful additional angle when LDL and total cholesterol look fine but HDL is low.

Why the ratio matters beyond the individual numbers

The Total/HDL ratio catches a specific blind spot: someone can have "normal" total cholesterol and LDL, but if their HDL is low, their actual cardiovascular risk is higher than those two numbers alone suggest. Dividing total cholesterol by HDL folds both pieces of information into one figure - generally, a ratio under 3.5 is considered ideal, and most guidelines recommend staying under 5.

Common mistakes

Focusing only on total cholesterol - a "Desirable" total number can still hide a concerning Total/HDL ratio if HDL is low, or an elevated LDL if HDL happens to be high.
Not following fasting instructions for triglycerides specifically - triglyceride results are more accurate after fasting, even on lipid panels that don't otherwise require it.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the HDL threshold differ between men and women?

Women naturally tend to have higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels than men on average, so the reference range for a healthy HDL level is set higher for women (50 mg/dL) than for men (40 mg/dL).

What's considered a good Total/HDL ratio?

A ratio of 3.5 or below is generally considered ideal, and most guidelines recommend staying under 5. A ratio above 5 is associated with meaningfully higher cardiovascular risk.

Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?

It depends on the specific test your doctor orders - some modern lipid panels don't require fasting, while triglyceride measurements in particular are often more accurate after a fasting period. Follow your healthcare provider's specific instructions.

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