Triglycerides Calculator — Level, mmol/L & TG/HDL Ratio
Check your triglyceride level against standard ranges, convert mg/dL to mmol/L, estimate VLDL cholesterol and get your triglyceride-to-HDL ratio.
Triglycerides are the main type of fat carried in the blood and appear on every standard lipid panel. This calculator places your result in the standard categories, converts between mg/dL and mmol/L, estimates VLDL cholesterol, and works out the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio if you add your HDL.
How to use this tool
- Choose the unit printed on your lab report.
- Enter your triglyceride result and whether you fasted before the test.
- Optionally add HDL cholesterol to get the TG/HDL ratio.
Formula
mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 88.57
VLDL cholesterol ≈ triglycerides (mg/dL) ÷ 5, then convert to cholesterol mmol/L if requested.
Triglyceride conversion uses 88.57 mg/dL per mmol/L; cholesterol uses 38.67. These are conventional lab conversion factors. VLDL is the approximate term from Friedewald and is withheld at triglycerides of 400 mg/dL or above. TG/HDL in mg/dL is about 2.29 times the ratio formed from mmol/L values. Classification uses unrounded mg/dL values so unit conversion does not change a boundary.
Example
A fasting result of 150 mg/dL is 150 ÷ 88.57 = 1.69 mmol/L, at the bottom of the borderline-high band (150–199 mg/dL). Estimated VLDL cholesterol is 150 ÷ 5 = 30 mg/dL, and with an HDL of 50 mg/dL the TG/HDL ratio is 150 ÷ 50 = 3.0 (about 1.31 in mmol/L units).
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal triglyceride level?
Under 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) on a fasting test. 150–199 mg/dL is borderline high, 200–499 mg/dL is high and 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or more is very high.
Does a non-fasting test change the result?
Fasting and non-fasting values need different interpretation. EAS/EFLM guidance flags non-fasting triglycerides at 175 mg/dL or higher and suggests considering a fasting sample above 440 mg/dL. This page shows that non-fasting flag separately from the historical fasting categories.
What does the TG/HDL ratio mean?
Research has linked a high ratio with insulin resistance and smaller, denser LDL particles. There is no single agreed cut-off and it is not a diagnostic test, but it is a useful number to follow alongside your other results.
What raises triglycerides?
Diet, alcohol, metabolic conditions, medicines and other factors can affect triglycerides. A single number cannot identify the cause. Discuss a raised result, particularly a very high value, with the clinician who requested the test.
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