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Cholesterol Ratio Calculator

Type in the numbers from your lab report. See the ratios that actually matter.

What these ratios are, and which one matters

Non-HDL is total cholesterol minus HDL. It counts everything that carries cholesterol into an artery wall rather than out of it, which is why the 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline and NICE both give it a place: it needs no fasting, and unlike calculated LDL it stays reliable when triglycerides are high, which is exactly when the calculated figure is least trustworthy.

The total to HDL ratio is the older summary and it is still used in risk calculators. It is a ratio, so it can be flattered by a high HDL, and raising HDL with drugs has repeatedly failed to lower risk in trials. Read it alongside non-HDL rather than instead of it.

Neither is a substitute for the number your own risk depends on, which is your overall cardiovascular risk over ten years, worked out from age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and these lipids together. A lipid panel on its own sets no treatment decision.

Every figure on this site names where it came from. How we check.

Your numbers, answered

In mg/dL. No single line diagnoses anything: risk is read from the whole panel plus age, blood pressure and smoking.

ValueReadingWhat it means
LDLUnder 100Optimal for most; under 70 is the target after a heart event.
LDL100 to 159Borderline territory. 130 or 145 here is a lifestyle conversation.
LDL160 and aboveHigh. An LDL of 160 or more deserves a real plan with a doctor, not just a retest.
HDLUnder 40 men · under 50 womenLow. A marker of risk more than a cause: exercise, weight and not smoking move it.
TriglyceridesUnder 150Normal. 150 to 499 responds strongly to sugar, alcohol and weight changes.
Total : HDL ratioUnder 4Good. Under 3.5 is better; above 5 raises concern.

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Blood pressureRisk is the two together, never one alone.Diets comparedThe pattern with the most trial evidence behind it.

Common questions

What is a good total cholesterol to HDL ratio?
Divide your total cholesterol by your HDL. A ratio under 3.5 is considered very good, under 5 is acceptable, and above 5 suggests higher heart risk. The ratio often says more than total cholesterol alone, because a high total driven by high HDL is a different story than one driven by LDL.
What is non-HDL cholesterol and what should it be?
Non-HDL is simply your total cholesterol minus your HDL, so it captures all the particle types that can clog arteries in one number. For most adults, a non-HDL below 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L) is the common target, and people at higher risk are often given a lower goal. Ask your own doctor what target fits your situation.
Does eating cholesterol raise my cholesterol?
Less than most people think. For the majority, cholesterol in food such as eggs has only a small effect on blood cholesterol, because the liver makes most of it. Saturated and trans fats, extra calories, and low activity matter more. A smaller group of people do respond strongly to dietary cholesterol, so it is still worth discussing your diet with your doctor.
At what cholesterol level do doctors suggest a statin?
There is no single number that triggers a statin. Doctors weigh your overall 10-year heart risk, using your age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, family history, and cholesterol together. A very high LDL, around 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or more, usually prompts the conversation on its own, but the decision is always individual, so make it with your own doctor.
Is an LDL of 160 high?
Yes, 160 mg/dL is where high LDL officially begins. What follows depends on the rest of your picture: age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history set how aggressively it is worth treating. It is a number that deserves a doctor conversation and a plan, not just a shrug or a yearly retest.