It means the LDL cholesterol on that report was calculated rather than measured — 'LDL calc' and 'LDL-C (calc)' say the same thing. Laboratories work it out by subtracting HDL cholesterol and an estimated VLDL fraction from total cholesterol, which is exactly the arithmetic this LDL calculator performs. It is the value the guidelines are written against, and it is dependable as long as triglycerides are below 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L).

There is no single normal value, because the level that matters depends on your overall cardiovascular risk. For reference, the Adult Treatment Panel III classification calls below 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) optimal, 100–129 mg/dL near optimal, 130–159 mg/dL borderline high, 160–189 mg/dL high, and 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or above very high. Treatment goals sit far below the top of those bands for people at higher risk: below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) for high risk and below 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L) for very high risk in the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines.

The full LDL cholesterol chart →

The standard calculation is the Friedewald equation, published in 1972: LDL-C = total cholesterol − HDL cholesterol − triglycerides ÷ 5 in mg/dL, or triglycerides ÷ 2.2 in mmol/L. The division estimates the cholesterol carried in VLDL particles, which are not measured directly. LDL itself is never measured, which is why the result is called a calculated or estimated LDL rather than a measured one.

How the equation works →

In mg/dL the divisor of 5 comes from the composition of a VLDL particle. In the fasting state VLDL carries roughly one fifth as much cholesterol as triglyceride by mass, so dividing the triglyceride concentration by 5 estimates the cholesterol that VLDL is carrying, and subtracting it leaves the cholesterol in LDL. The SI form uses 2.2 rather than the mathematically equivalent 2.18, which is why a panel calculated in mmol/L can differ by about 0.01 mmol/L from the same panel calculated in mg/dL.

It fails in four situations. Triglycerides of 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) or more: the assumption behind the divisor of 5 breaks down and the equation underestimates LDL cholesterol, which is why the original paper and every guideline since set that limit. Very low triglycerides, below about 50 mg/dL (0.6 mmol/L): the VLDL estimate becomes unreliable. Non-fasting samples: triglycerides rise after a meal, so the VLDL estimate is too large and LDL comes out too low. And conditions with abnormal lipoproteins, such as chylomicronaemia or type III dyslipidaemia, where a fixed divisor does not describe the particles present.

Yes. The divisor of 5 assumes fasting triglyceride levels, and a non-fasting sample can raise triglycerides enough to push the calculated LDL cholesterol down by a clinically meaningful amount. Most laboratories ask for 9 to 12 hours of fasting before a lipid panel, although some screening programmes now accept non-fasting samples and interpret triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol rather than a calculated LDL.

Three common reasons. Rounding: reports round the inputs before calculating, or round the result, so a value can move by a milligram or two. A different equation: some laboratories now use the Martin–Hopkins adjustable factor or the Sampson equation instead of Friedewald, and the three disagree most at high triglyceride or low LDL levels. A direct measurement: some assays measure LDL cholesterol physically rather than estimating it, which sidesteps the equation and is the right approach when triglycerides are above 400 mg/dL.

For the great majority of people, yes. Guidelines accept the calculated value for screening and for monitoring statin treatment as long as triglycerides are below 400 mg/dL. Direct measurement is preferred when triglycerides are very high, when the calculated result looks inconsistent with the rest of the panel, and in people with conditions that distort lipoprotein composition. Where the two disagree, a clinician will usually trust the direct measurement.

The SI form divides triglycerides by 2.2. That is not an exact unit conversion of the mg/dL form — dividing by 5 in mg/dL is equivalent to dividing by about 2.18 in mmol/L — but 2.2 is the value the SI literature and laboratory practice specify, so this calculator uses 2.2 when you enter mmol/L and 5 when you enter mg/dL, exactly as published for each unit.

Unit conversion factors →

The Friedewald equation is not valid there, so do not rely on the calculated LDL cholesterol. Non-HDL cholesterol — total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol — stays valid at any triglyceride level and is the guideline-recommended alternative. Ask your clinician or laboratory for a direct LDL cholesterol measurement, or for a result calculated with the Martin–Hopkins or Sampson method, both of which remain accurate at higher triglycerides. Very high triglycerides are also worth treating in their own right.

Non-HDL cholesterol is total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. It counts every cholesterol-carrying particle that is not HDL — including VLDL, remnant particles and LDL — so it captures the atherogenic particles a calculated LDL can miss. It needs no fasting, needs no equation, and stays meaningful when triglycerides are high. Most lipid guidelines recommend it as a secondary target, usually around 30 mg/dL above the LDL cholesterol target.

Non-HDL cholesterol calculator →

No. The calculation runs entirely inside your browser and the page sends no data anywhere. There is no account, no analytics script and no advertising on this site, and nothing you type is stored on a server. The only place your numbers persist is the address bar, because the page writes them into the URL so that a link can reproduce the same calculation; closing the tab clears it.

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It depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, not on the number alone. The 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines suggest below 116 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) for low risk, below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) for moderate risk, below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) plus a 50% reduction for high risk, and below 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L) plus a 50% reduction for very high risk. The 2018 AHA/ACC guideline instead assigns statin intensity by risk group rather than naming a numeric target. A target is a clinical decision made with your own history in front of you.

The standard method is the Friedewald equation. Take your total cholesterol, subtract HDL cholesterol, then subtract an estimate of the triglycerides carried in VLDL particles. In mg/dL that estimate is triglycerides divided by 5, and in mmol/L it is triglycerides divided by 2.2. LDL cholesterol is inferred, never measured, which is why laboratory reports often say LDL-C (calc) or LDL chol calc.

How the equation works →

In mmol/L the formula is LDL-C = total cholesterol − HDL cholesterol − triglycerides / 2.2. The divisor of 2.2 is the SI version of the same VLDL estimate used in mg/dL, and it is the value published for the mmol/L form of the Friedewald equation. The mmol/L result is not an exact conversion of the mg/dL result; the two paths can differ by about 0.01 mmol/L because the divisors are not mathematically identical.

Unit conversion factors →

The calculator works out both from the same three numbers. LDL cholesterol is total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol minus an estimated VLDL cholesterol. VLDL cholesterol is estimated as triglycerides / 5 in mg/dL, or triglycerides / 2.2 in mmol/L. So if total cholesterol is 200, HDL is 50 and triglycerides are 150 mg/dL, VLDL is 150 / 5 = 30 and LDL is 200 − 50 − 30 = 120 mg/dL. This is the arithmetic the calculator performs for every panel.

The direct measurement of LDL cholesterol is slow and expensive, so for most people it is estimated from a routine lipid panel instead. The original method, preparative ultracentrifugation, separates lipoproteins in a centrifuge and is impractical for everyday laboratory work. The Friedewald equation, published in 1972, estimates LDL from three measurements that are cheap and quick to make: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. That is why laboratory reports often label the result LDL-C (calc), LDL chol calc, or "calculated LDL". Direct measurement is reserved for situations where the estimate is not reliable, such as very high triglycerides or abnormal lipoproteins.

How the equation works →

To convert LDL cholesterol from mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by 38.67. For example, an LDL cholesterol of 2.5 mmol/L is about 97 mg/dL (2.5 × 38.67 ≈ 96.7). If your LDL cholesterol is already in mg/dL, no conversion is needed. The factor 38.67 is the cholesterol conversion factor and applies to total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol alike. Use 88.57 for triglycerides, because they are a different molecule and use a different molar mass. Using the wrong factor for the analyte you have is a common source of quietly wrong conversions, which is why this site keeps the two factors separate.

Cholesterol units converter →

If 7.2 is an LDL cholesterol in mmol/L, multiply by the cholesterol conversion factor 38.67 to get about 278.4 mg/dL, which is high. If 7.2 is total cholesterol in mmol/L, that converts to about 278.4 mg/dL total cholesterol, which is also high. The factor is the same for LDL, HDL, total and non-HDL cholesterol. Before converting, check whether the number on your report is LDL cholesterol or total cholesterol, because the meaning is very different even though the arithmetic is similar. If you are not sure what the number means, the safer move is to read it straight off the report and speak to the clinician who ordered the test.

Cholesterol units converter →

Lowering LDL cholesterol is about your overall cardiovascular risk rather than a single number in isolation. Approaches a clinician may suggest include reducing saturated and trans fats, increasing soluble fibre, adding plant sterols or stanols, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, and stopping smoking. If lifestyle change is not enough, medications such as statins, ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitors can lower LDL cholesterol substantially. Dietary change can lower LDL by roughly 10–20% over weeks to months; statins often reduce it by 20–50% within a few weeks. Do not start, stop or change a medication on the strength of a number from this calculator — that is a conversation for the clinician who knows your full history.

Medical disclaimer →

The treatment goals used on this site come from the 2019 ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia guidelines and are organised by cardiovascular risk rather than by age. For low risk the target is below 116 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L); for moderate risk, below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L); for high risk, below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) plus a 50% reduction; and for very high risk, below 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L) plus a 50% reduction. The 2018 AHA/ACC guideline works differently and assigns statin intensity by risk group rather than naming a numeric target. A target is a clinical decision made with your own history in front of you.

LDL cholesterol treatment goals →

The content on this site references the 2019 ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia guidelines for treatment goals and the 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline for statin intensity, alongside the Adult Treatment Panel III classification for the LDL cholesterol categories. The site has not incorporated any cholesterol guidelines issued after that. Any cholesterol guidelines published in 2026 or later are not represented here. For the most current recommendations, check the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, or European Society of Cardiology directly, and compare any new guidance against the sources cited on this site rather than relying on a summary.

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There is no safe quick fix that can be applied without medical advice. Lifestyle changes such as cutting saturated and trans fats, eating more soluble fibre, maintaining a healthy weight and being active can lower LDL cholesterol by around 10–20% over weeks to months. Statins and other lipid-lowering medications can reduce LDL cholesterol substantially, often within a few weeks, but the pace and target depend on your overall risk and health. If you need a fast change because of a specific clinical situation, that is a decision for the clinician managing your treatment, not for a calculator.

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A calculated LDL cholesterol of 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or higher is classified as very high. At that level the LDL cholesterol is high enough on its own to count as a high cardiovascular risk factor, and it raises the possibility of familial hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic condition. Very high LDL cholesterol should be discussed with a clinician, because the appropriate response depends on the full picture — your overall risk, whether there is a genetic cause, and whether triglycerides are also elevated. Do not start, stop or change any treatment because of a number from this calculator; that is a clinical decision, not a calculator decision.

LDL cholesterol chart →