Why do cholesterol and triglycerides use different factors?

Conversion between mass and molar units depends on molar mass. Cholesterol (and LDL/HDL, which are measured as cholesterol) divides by 38.67, while triglycerides, which are larger molecules, divide by 88.57.

What is the conversion factor for total cholesterol?

To convert total cholesterol, LDL, or HDL from mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 38.67. To go from mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by 38.67. For example, 200 mg/dL equals about 5.17 mmol/L.

What is a healthy total cholesterol level?

A desirable total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L). LDL below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) and HDL above 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) for men or 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) for women are common targets, though individual goals vary by risk.

Can I use this for LDL and HDL too?

Yes. LDL and HDL are reported as cholesterol mass, so they use the same 38.67 factor as total cholesterol. Only triglycerides use the separate 88.57 factor.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser and the values you enter are never transmitted to or saved on any server.

What is the Cholesterol Unit Converter (mg/dL to mmol/L)?

Converts total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides between mg/dL and mmol/L using analyte-specific conversion factors (38.67 for cholesterol, 88.57 for triglycerides). Built for cardiologists, GPs, and patients comparing lab results internationally. Runs 100% in your browser. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

Cholesterol Unit Converter (mg/dL to mmol/L)

Name: Cholesterol Unit Converter (mg/dL to mmol/L)
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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The Cholesterol Unit Converter switches lipid-panel results between mg/dL (used in the US and several other countries) and mmol/L (used in the UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe). Because each lipid is a different molecule, the converter uses the correct factor for the analyte you choose.

Why there are two different unit systems

The United States uses milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) to report lipid levels. The UK, Canada, most of Europe and Australia report the same tests in millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Both are measuring the same thing — concentration of lipid in blood — but expressed in mass units versus molar units. The difference in numbers can be startling: a US cholesterol report of 200 mg/dL and a UK report of 5.17 mmol/L describe the same level, but the numbers differ by a factor of about 38.67.

This matters whenever you are comparing results across countries, reading international guidelines, or changing healthcare systems.

How conversion works

Converting mass concentration to molar concentration requires dividing by the analyte’s molar mass (in the appropriate units). Each lipid has its own:

Total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL are all reported as cholesterol mass (molar mass ≈ 386.65 g/mol), giving a conversion factor of 38.67.
Triglycerides are larger molecules (effective molar mass ≈ 885.7 g/mol for a typical mixed triglyceride), giving a factor of 88.57.

The conversions are:

Cholesterol mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 38.67 (reverse: × 38.67)

Triglycerides mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 88.57 (reverse: × 88.57)

For example: total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL = 200 ÷ 38.67 ≈ 5.17 mmol/L; triglycerides of 150 mg/dL = 150 ÷ 88.57 ≈ 1.69 mmol/L.

Typical reference ranges (both units)

Analyte	Desirable / Target	mg/dL	mmol/L
Total cholesterol	Desirable	below 200	below 5.2
LDL	General target	below 100	below 2.6
LDL	High-risk target	below 70	below 1.8
HDL (men)	Protective	above 40	above 1.0
HDL (women)	Protective	above 50	above 1.3
Triglycerides	Normal	below 150	below 1.7

These are widely used reference points. Individual targets vary by cardiovascular risk, age, and other factors — always interpret results with your doctor or pharmacist against your specific risk profile and your own laboratory’s reference ranges.

A common error to avoid

Using the cholesterol factor (38.67) on a triglyceride value — or vice versa — produces an answer that is more than twice off. Always select the correct analyte in the converter before converting. The tool enforces this by requiring you to choose the analyte first.

Everything runs in your browser; the values you enter are never transmitted to any server.