Cholesterol Ratio Calculator

Calculate your total cholesterol to HDL ratio, plus LDL/HDL and triglyceride/HDL ratios and non-HDL cholesterol, in mg/dL or mmol/L.

Cholesterol ratios compress a lipid panel into a single number. The best known is total cholesterol divided by HDL, which some doctors and risk calculators use alongside the individual values. This calculator also gives the LDL/HDL and triglyceride/HDL ratios, non-HDL cholesterol and the share of cholesterol carried as HDL.

How to use this tool

Choose mg/dL or mmol/L to match your report.
Enter total cholesterol and HDL.
Add LDL and triglycerides if you have them — both are optional.
Read the ratios and what each one means.

Formula

TC/HDL = total cholesterol ÷ HDL · LDL/HDL = LDL ÷ HDL · TG/HDL = triglycerides ÷ HDL (mg/dL)

TC/HDL and LDL/HDL come out the same in either unit because both values are cholesterol. TG/HDL does not: triglycerides and cholesterol use different conversion factors (88.57 and 38.67 mg/dL per mmol/L), so a ratio of mmol/L values is multiplied by 2.29 to give the usual mg/dL ratio. If LDL is blank but triglycerides are below 400 mg/dL, LDL is estimated with the Friedewald equation.

Example

Total cholesterol 200 mg/dL, HDL 50, LDL 130 and triglycerides 150 give TC/HDL = 200 ÷ 50 = 4.0 — plus LDL/HDL = 2.6, TG/HDL = 3.0 and non-HDL cholesterol of 150 mg/dL. HDL makes up 25% of the total.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good cholesterol ratio?

A lower ratio generally means more total cholesterol is carried as HDL, but there is no universal ratio that proves low cardiovascular risk. Two people with the same ratio can have very different absolute LDL and non-HDL concentrations.

Is the ratio more useful than LDL?

Not on its own. Guidelines set treatment goals mainly by LDL or non-HDL cholesterol. The ratio is a handy summary and feeds into some risk scores, but two people with the same ratio can have very different LDL levels.

What does a high triglyceride-to-HDL ratio mean?

TG/HDL is used in research, but thresholds vary with population and unit convention. This calculator does not diagnose insulin resistance or assign a risk category from that ratio. Evaluate the individual lipid results and clinical history.

Sources

This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.

Last updated: 2026-10-30