Cholesterol Ratio Calculator
Total-to-HDL ratio, non-HDL cholesterol and a calculated LDL from a standard lipid panel.
A lipid panel gives you four numbers, and the ratios between them say more about risk than any one of them alone. Enter what is on your report — leave LDL blank and it will be calculated for you the way most laboratories do it.
How this is worked out
The Friedewald equation estimates LDL as total cholesterol minus HDL minus triglycerides divided by five (mg/dL), or divided by 2.2 in mmol/L. It becomes unreliable when triglycerides are above about 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) or when LDL is very low, which is why laboratories increasingly measure LDL directly or use the Martin–Hopkins method instead.
Non-HDL cholesterol — total minus HDL — captures every particle that can build up in an artery wall, and several guidelines now treat it as a better target than LDL alone. A total-to-HDL ratio below about 3.5 is generally considered good and above 5 concerning; below 4 is a commonly used cut-off.
None of these numbers decides anything on its own. Treatment decisions run through a full risk estimate that includes age, sex, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history. Take the report to the doctor who ordered it.
This calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is transmitted to us, saved on our servers, or shared with anyone.
Common questions
What is a good cholesterol ratio?
A total-to-HDL ratio under 3.5 is considered good, and under 5 acceptable. Raising HDL through exercise improves the ratio, but lowering LDL is what most consistently lowers events.
Do I need to fast before a lipid test?
Often not any more. Non-fasting panels are accepted in many guidelines, though a fasting sample is still preferred when triglycerides are high or LDL is being calculated.