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Cholesterol Units Converter

Health

Convert cholesterol and triglyceride values between mg/dL and mmol/L instantly using standard clinical lipid conversion factors, with both units shown side by side.

1500

Value in mg/dL

200
Value in mmol/L
5.17

This calculator computes your Value in mg/dL, Value in mmol/L from the values you enter.

Inputs
Lipid ValueValue Is InLipid Type
Outputs
Value in mg/dLValue in mmol/L

What is a Cholesterol Units?

A Cholesterol Units Converter translates cholesterol and triglyceride values between the two measurement systems used around the world: milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), the standard in the United States, and millimoles per liter (mmol/L), used in most of Europe, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. The conversion is a simple multiplication or division by a fixed molar-mass-based factor — 38.67 for cholesterol and 88.57 for triglycerides.

This matters whenever a lab report, medical study, or international health resource presents cholesterol in a unit different from the one you're used to. Rather than doing the arithmetic by hand, this calculator returns both unit values instantly so you can compare results across reports, countries, or care providers without confusion.

How to use this Cholesterol Units calculator

  1. Enter the Lipid Value exactly as it appears on your lab report or reference source.
  2. Select Value Is In to indicate whether that number is currently in mg/dL or mmol/L.
  3. Choose the Lipid Type — cholesterol (total, LDL, or HDL) or triglycerides — since each uses a different conversion factor.
  4. Review the Value in mg/dL and Value in mmol/L results shown together.
  5. Use the converted mg/dL value directly in the LDL Calculator or VLDL Calculator if needed.

Formula & Methodology

Cholesterol: mg/dL = mmol/L × 38.67, and mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 38.67

Triglycerides: mg/dL = mmol/L × 88.57, and mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 88.57

These are the standard molar-mass-based conversion factors used across clinical chemistry to translate lipid panel values between the two unit systems.

Worked example: a total cholesterol reading of 200 mg/dL converts to 200 ÷ 38.67 = 5.17 mmol/L. Conversely, a triglyceride reading of 1.7 mmol/L converts to 1.7 × 88.57 = 150.6 mg/dL.

Frequently Asked Questions

The United States reports cholesterol in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), while most of Europe, Canada, and many other countries report it in millimoles per liter (mmol/L). The difference is purely a reporting convention rooted in each country's laboratory standards — the underlying cholesterol level in your blood is exactly the same either way.
For total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, 1 mmol/L equals 38.67 mg/dL, so multiplying a mmol/L value by 38.67 gives mg/dL, and dividing a mg/dL value by 38.67 gives mmol/L. This calculator applies that exact factor automatically in whichever direction you need.
No — triglycerides use a different molar mass, so the conversion factor is 88.57 rather than 38.67. Selecting Triglycerides as the lipid type in this calculator switches to the correct factor automatically.
A desirable total cholesterol is generally considered to be below 200 mg/dL, which is roughly below 5.2 mmol/L. Borderline-high typically falls between 200-239 mg/dL (about 5.2-6.2 mmol/L), and high is 240 mg/dL (about 6.2 mmol/L) or above, though your healthcare provider's reference ranges take priority.
Yes — the same 38.67 conversion factor applies to total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol alike, since they share the same molecular basis. Simply enter the LDL or HDL number from your lab report and select the cholesterol lipid type.
Small rounding differences can occur because some labs round mmol/L results to one decimal place while others use two. This calculator rounds mg/dL to one decimal and mmol/L to two decimals, which may cause tiny discrepancies of a few hundredths compared to a rounded lab printout.
The conversion itself is mathematically exact and uses the same factors used in clinical chemistry, so it is accurate for translating a value from one unit to another. However, interpreting whether a given level is healthy still depends on your full lipid panel and personal risk factors, which this converter does not assess.
No — the mg/dL to mmol/L conversion factor is the same regardless of whether the original blood draw was fasting or non-fasting. Fasting status affects how triglycerides and LDL are measured or calculated on the original lab report, not the unit conversion itself.
If your lab report already lists LDL or VLDL in mmol/L, you can convert it to mg/dL here before using the [LDL Calculator](/ldl-calculator/) or [VLDL Calculator](/vldl-calculator/), both of which expect mg/dL inputs based on the Friedewald equation. This keeps all your lipid values in a consistent unit for further calculations.
Double-check that you selected the correct starting unit and lipid type, since choosing the wrong one can produce a result that is off by a large factor. If the value still looks unexpected after confirming your inputs, compare it against your original lab report and consult your healthcare provider.
No — cholesterol ratios, such as total cholesterol to HDL, are unitless numbers and do not need unit conversion since the units cancel out. For ratio interpretation, use the dedicated [Cholesterol Ratio Calculator](/cholesterol-ratio-calculator/) instead.
Also known as
mmol/L to mg/dL cholesterol calculatorcholesterol unit conversionlipid panel unit convertertriglycerides mmol to mg/dLcholesterol mg/dl mmol/l converter