Cholesterol and Triglyceride Unit Conversion
Convert total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride results between mmol/L (Australia, Europe, Canada) and mg/dL (United States). Enter a value below and the other unit updates instantly — then check your target levels by cardiovascular risk.
1 mmol/L = 38.67 mg/dL · applies to total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C
1 mmol/L = 88.57 mg/dL
Lipid Targets by Cardiovascular Risk Category
Treatment targets depend on your overall cardiovascular risk — the higher the risk, the lower the goal. Select a category to see the recommended levels.
About these guidelines (ESC/EAS & ACC/AHA 2026)
LDL-cholesterol lowering is the cornerstone of ASCVD prevention; ApoB and non-HDL-C are secondary markers of atherogenic burden, most useful when triglycerides are raised or in diabetes. The ESC/EAS guidelines (2019, 2021 and the 2025 Focused Update) set explicit LDL-C goals by risk. The ACC/AHA 2026 guideline retired the 2018 cholesterol guideline and restored numeric, risk-based LDL-C goals, bringing it broadly into line with ESC. Risk is estimated with SCORE2/SCORE2-OP (ESC) and the PREVENT-ASCVD equations (ACC/AHA 2026, which replaced the Pooled Cohort Equations). Elevated Lp(a), a high coronary calcium score, South Asian ethnicity and a family history of premature ASCVD can reclassify a person upward.
Based on ESC/EAS 2019/2025 and ACC/AHA 2026 risk stratification
Who is in this category
| Other markers | ESC/EAS | ACC/AHA 2026 |
|---|
Clinical notes & therapy
| Classification | mmol/L | mg/dL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desirable | <5.2 | <200 | Desirable |
| Borderline high | 5.2–6.1 | 200–239 | Borderline |
| High | ≥6.2 | ≥240 | High |
| Suggestive of FH (ESC) | >8.0 | >310 | Refer |
- Mach F, et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):111–188.
- Visseren FLJ, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J. 2021;42(34):3227–3337.
- Mach F, Koskinas KC, et al. 2025 Focused Update of the 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Eur Heart J. 2025.
- Blumenthal RS, Morris PB, Gaudino M, et al. 2026 ACC/AHA/Multisociety Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2026;87(19):2624–2757. See also our 2026 guideline summary.
- Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. 2022 ACC Expert Consensus on Nonstatin Therapies for LDL-C Lowering. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;80:1366–1418.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide the mg/dL value by 38.67. To go the other way, multiply the mmol/L value by 38.67. This factor applies to total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C, which share the same molar mass.
How do I convert triglycerides between mg/dL and mmol/L?
Triglycerides use a different factor: divide mg/dL by 88.57 to get mmol/L, or multiply mmol/L by 88.57 for the reverse. The factor differs because triglyceride molecules are larger and heavier than cholesterol.
Why is the triglyceride conversion factor different from cholesterol?
Converting between mass and molar units depends on molecular weight. Cholesterol has a molar mass of about 386.65 g/mol (giving 38.67), whereas the mixed triglycerides measured in blood average about 885.7 g/mol (giving 88.57).
Why do some countries report cholesterol in mg/dL and others in mmol/L?
mmol/L is the SI (molar) unit used in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and most of Europe, while the United States and a few other countries report cholesterol in mg/dL (mass per volume). Both describe the same blood concentration.
What is a healthy cholesterol level?
There is no single target — the ideal LDL-C depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, and higher-risk patients need lower levels. See the lipid targets by risk category above, and discuss your individual goals with your doctor.