What are my cholesterol levels?
Enter total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides from a lipid panel to see the ATP III band of each and an LDL estimate. For information only. This is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Do not use it to make treatment decisions without a clinician. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page.
- LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)
- 123
The estimated LDL cholesterol is 123 mg/dL, Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL). Total cholesterol: Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL). HDL: Between the cut-offs (40 to 59 mg/dL). Triglycerides: Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL).
Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL)
- Optimal (under 100 mg/dL)
- Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL)
- Borderline high (130 to 159 mg/dL)
- High (160 to 189 mg/dL)
- Very high (190 mg/dL or more)
- LDL cholesterol (mmol/L)
- 3.19
- LDL
- Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL)
- Total cholesterol
- Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL)
- HDL cholesterol
- Between the cut-offs (40 to 59 mg/dL)
- Triglycerides
- Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL)
- Non-HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)
- 150
- Total to HDL ratio
- 4
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL): 123. The estimated LDL cholesterol is 123 mg/dL, Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL). Total cholesterol: Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL). HDL: Between the cut-offs (40 to 59 mg/dL). Triglycerides: Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL).
Where does the LDL sit?
This calculator gives general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor or other health care provider. Talk with a professional about your results. Terms of use
How to calculate
Reads a lipid panel: grades total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides by NCEP ATP III, and estimates LDL cholesterol with the Sampson (NIH) equation.
Example with the default inputs (Units mg/dL, Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 200, HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 50, Triglycerides (mg/dL) 150): The estimated LDL cholesterol is 123 mg/dL, Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL). Total cholesterol: Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL). HDL: Between the cut-offs (40 to 59 mg/dL). Triglycerides: Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL).
Method: LDL (Sampson NIH equation 2, mg/dL) = TC/0.948 − HDL/0.971 − (TG/8.56 + TG × non-HDL/2140 − TG²/16100) − 9.44, for TG up to 800. Non-HDL = TC − HDL. Ratio = TC ÷ HDL. Bands: NCEP ATP III.
- Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides come from the same blood sample.
- Each band is read from the whole mg/dL value; SI values are converted with 0.02586 (cholesterol) and 0.0113 (triglycerides) mmol/L per mg/dL first.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Units mg/dL, Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 200, HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 50, Triglycerides (mg/dL) 150 gives LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 123, LDL cholesterol (mmol/L) 3.19, LDL Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL), Total cholesterol Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol Between the cut-offs (40 to 59 mg/dL), Triglycerides Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL), Non-HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 150, Total to HDL ratio 4.Source: Sampson 2020 NIH equation 2 = 123.397 mg/dL
- Units mg/dL, Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 180, HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 60, Triglycerides (mg/dL) 100 gives LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 102, LDL Near or above optimal (100 to 129 mg/dL), Total cholesterol Desirable (under 200 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol High (60 mg/dL or more), Triglycerides Normal (under 150 mg/dL), Total to HDL ratio 3.Source: Sampson 2020 NIH equation 2 = 101.973 mg/dL
- Units mg/dL, Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 260, HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 35, Triglycerides (mg/dL) 500 gives LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 133, Total cholesterol High (240 mg/dL or more), HDL cholesterol Low (under 40 mg/dL), Triglycerides Very high (500 mg/dL or more), Non-HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 225, Total to HDL ratio 7.4.Source: Sampson 2020 NIH equation 2 = 133.323 mg/dL
- Units mmol/L, Total cholesterol (mmol/L) 5.2, HDL cholesterol (mmol/L) 1.3, Triglycerides (mmol/L) 1.7 gives LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 124, LDL cholesterol (mmol/L) 3.21, Total cholesterol Borderline high (200 to 239 mg/dL), Triglycerides Borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL), Total to HDL ratio 4.Source: Sampson 2020 NIH equation 2 = 124.129 mg/dL, × 0.02586 = 3.210 mmol/L
Medical disclaimer
This calculator is for information and education only. It is not medical advice, and its result is not a diagnosis. Do not use it to start, stop, or change a treatment without a clinician who knows your health history. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page. This site's editors checked the formulas and worked examples against published sources. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number.
When this does not apply. The ATP III bands are for adults. Children and teens have other cut-offs. The LDL estimate uses the Sampson equation, which was checked for triglycerides up to 800 mg/dL; above that the page gives no answer, and a direct LDL measurement is needed.
How it works
The page reads the same lipid panel as the LDL calculator (total cholesterol TC, HDL cholesterol HDL, triglycerides TG, all in mg/dL) with the Sampson equation as its preset.
- LDL (Sampson NIH equation 2) = TC ÷ 0.948 − HDL ÷ 0.971 − (TG ÷ 8.56 + TG × non-HDL ÷ 2140 − TG² ÷ 16100) − 9.44, where non-HDL = TC − HDL. No answer when TG is over 800 mg/dL, when HDL is not below TC, or when the estimate is 0 or less.
- Ratio = TC ÷ HDL, to 1 decimal.
- Each value is rounded once from the exact typed decimals, halves away from zero, and each band is read from the whole mg/dL value.
NCEP ATP III bands (mg/dL):
| Value | Bands |
|---|---|
| LDL | under 100 optimal; 100 to 129 near or above optimal; 130 to 159 borderline high; 160 to 189 high; 190 or more very high |
| Total cholesterol | under 200 desirable; 200 to 239 borderline high; 240 or more high |
| HDL | under 40 low; 60 or more high (40 to 59 is between the cut-offs) |
| Triglycerides | under 150 normal; 150 to 199 borderline high; 200 to 499 high; 500 or more very high |
Units. Cholesterol in mmol/L = mg/dL × 0.02586; triglycerides in mmol/L = mg/dL × 0.0113 (Sampson 2020). Values typed in mmol/L are divided by these factors first; the LDL estimate is also shown in mmol/L.
Worked examples by hand
Page default. TC 200, HDL 50, TG 150 mg/dL. LDL = 210.9705 − 51.4933 − (17.5234 + 10.5140 − 1.3975) − 9.44 = 123.3973, 123 mg/dL, near or above optimal; 3.19 mmol/L. TC 200 is borderline high, HDL 50 is between the cut-offs, TG 150 is borderline high. Non-HDL 150. Ratio 200 ÷ 50 = 4.0.
Healthy panel. TC 180, HDL 60, TG 100. LDL = 189.8734 − 61.7920 − (11.6822 + 5.6075 − 0.6211) − 9.44 = 101.9728, 102 mg/dL. TC desirable, HDL high, TG normal, ratio 3.0.
High triglycerides. TC 260, HDL 35, TG 500. LDL = 133.3229, 133 mg/dL (worked on the LDL calculator page). TC high, HDL low, TG very high, non-HDL 225, ratio 260 ÷ 35 = 7.43, 7.4.
SI units. TC 5.2, HDL 1.3, TG 1.7 mmol/L are 201.0828, 50.2707, and 150.4425 mg/dL. LDL = 212.1126 − 51.7721 − (17.5751 + 10.6021 − 1.4058) − 9.44 = 124.1291, 124 mg/dL, × 0.02586 = 3.21 mmol/L. TC 201 is borderline high, TG 150 is borderline high, ratio 5.2 ÷ 1.3 = 4.0.
Other questions people ask
What is a normal total cholesterol level?
The NCEP ATP III report calls total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL desirable, 200 to 239 borderline high, and 240 or more high.
What HDL cholesterol level is good?
ATP III calls HDL under 40 mg/dL low, a risk factor for heart disease, and 60 or more high, which counts against risk. Values from 40 to 59 sit between the two cut-offs.
What are normal triglycerides?
ATP III grades triglycerides under 150 mg/dL as normal, 150 to 199 as borderline high, 200 to 499 as high, and 500 or more as very high.
How does the page get LDL cholesterol?
It uses the Sampson (NIH) equation 2 from 2020, which works from total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides and was checked for triglycerides up to 800 mg/dL. The LDL calculator also offers the older Friedewald equation.
What is non-HDL cholesterol?
Total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. It counts the cholesterol in every particle except HDL.
Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
Ask the lab or your clinician. The Sampson equation was derived from fasting samples.