𧬠Cholesterol Unit Converter
mg/dL and mmol/L, both directions, cholesterol and triglycerides.
Unit conversion only. Discuss your lipid values with your clinician.
US labs report cholesterol in mg/dL; most of the world uses mmol/L. Reading a foreign lab report or a European guideline means converting, and the factors differ for cholesterol and triglycerides because the molecules weigh different amounts. Type in either unit above for an instant both-way conversion.
How to Use This Converter
Pick cholesterol or triglycerides, type the value in either box, and the other fills in.
Select total/LDL/HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. The factor changes.
Type your value in mg/dL or mmol/L. The converted value appears in the other box and below.
Use the result to read guidelines or compare panels, then check your cholesterol ratios.
The Conversion Factors
The factors come from molecular weights: cholesterol's is about 386.7 g/mol, so dividing mg/dL by 38.67 gives mmol/L. Triglycerides average about 885.7 g/mol (they vary by fatty acid composition, hence the approximate 88.57). The triglyceride factor is therefore an average, good to the precision anyone needs clinically. Memorize 38.67 and 88.57 and you will never be stranded by a foreign lab report again.
Landmarks worth knowing in both units: total cholesterol 200 mg/dL = 5.17 mmol/L (desirable ceiling), 240 = 6.21 (high). LDL 100 = 2.59, 130 = 3.36, 190 = 4.91. HDL 40 = 1.03, 60 = 1.55. Triglycerides 150 = 1.69, 500 = 5.65. European guidelines quote targets in mmol/L: LDL under 3.0 for moderate risk, under 1.8 (and now under 1.4) for very high risk.
Worked Example
A UK lab reports total cholesterol 6.2 mmol/L. Convert: 6.2 x 38.67 = 239.8 mg/dL, just under the 240 high threshold an American doctor would quote. LDL 3.4 mmol/L: 3.4 x 38.67 = 131.5 mg/dL, borderline high. Triglycerides 1.7 mmol/L: 1.7 x 88.57 = 150.6 mg/dL, right at the normal ceiling. The numbers are the same health story in both languages; only the units changed.
Why Two Systems Persist
The US clings to mg/dL (mass concentration) while the SI world uses mmol/L (molar concentration), a split dating to different standardization eras that neither side has bothered to resolve. Molar units make chemistry cleaner: 5 mmol/L means the same number of molecules regardless of substance, which is why researchers prefer them. Mass units are arguably more intuitive for patients. Neither is going away, so conversion literacy is the permanent fix. Note that glucose uses yet another factor (18.02), so do not reuse cholesterol's 38.67 on a blood sugar reading.
One caution: always confirm which unit your lab used before converting. A total cholesterol of "5.2" is excellent in mmol/L and impossibly low in mg/dL; a "200" is normal in mg/dL and off the charts in mmol/L. The unit is printed on every lab report, usually in the column header. When in doubt, the plausible range tells you: cholesterol in mg/dL runs roughly 100-300, in mmol/L roughly 2.5-8.
After Converting: What Matters
The converted number is only useful inside the right reference frame. Convert first, then interpret with the matching guidelines: US thresholds in mg/dL (total <200 desirable, LDL <100 optimal) or European in mmol/L (LDL <3.0/<1.8 by risk). Then compute your cholesterol ratios, which are unit-free and identical in both systems. Ratios are the great equalizer: 220/55 = 4.0 whether you measured in Ohio or Oslo.
Related Calculators
Keep exploring: try our cholesterol ratio and cardiovascular risk for the next piece of the picture.
For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you convert cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide by 38.67 for total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol. Example: 200 mg/dL / 38.67 = 5.17 mmol/L. For triglycerides, divide by 88.57 instead. This converter does it instantly in both directions.
What is 200 mg/dL cholesterol in mmol/L?
5.17 mmol/L (200 / 38.67). This is the common "desirable" ceiling for total cholesterol, quoted as <200 mg/dL in the US and <5.2 mmol/L in most other countries.
Why do triglycerides use a different conversion factor?
Because the conversion depends on molecular weight: cholesterol is ~386.7 g/mol (factor 38.67) while triglycerides average ~885.7 g/mol (factor 88.57). Each substance needs its own factor.
Is 5.2 mmol/L cholesterol high?
5.2 mmol/L equals about 201 mg/dL, right at the desirable ceiling. Under 5.2 is desirable, 5.2-6.2 borderline, above 6.2 high for total cholesterol. Interpret with your full risk profile.
What is a normal LDL in mmol/L?
Optimal under 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL); near-optimal 2.6-3.3; borderline high 3.4-4.1; high above 4.1. Very-high-risk patients target under 1.8 or even 1.4 mmol/L per European guidelines.
How do I convert glucose mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide by 18.02 (glucose's factor), not 38.67. Each substance has its own molecular-weight factor: reusing cholesterol's factor on glucose gives a wrong answer.
Which countries use mmol/L for cholesterol?
Most of the world: UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, and others. The US is the main holdout using mg/dL. International guidelines and research papers quote mmol/L.
Do cholesterol ratios need unit conversion?
No. Ratios divide the same units out, so total/HDL is identical in mg/dL and mmol/L. That makes ratios the easiest way to compare panels across countries.
What is 150 mg/dL triglycerides in mmol/L?
1.69 mmol/L (150 / 88.57). This is the commonly cited normal ceiling for triglycerides, so 1.7 mmol/L is the equivalent threshold on international lab reports.
How precise are these conversions?
Exact for cholesterol (fixed molecular weight). Approximate for triglycerides, since triglyceride molecules vary in fatty-acid composition; 88.57 uses the average molecular weight, accurate well beyond clinical need.