Cholesterol Calculator: Non-HDL, LDL and Ratios

A standard lipid panel gives total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and usually LDL, either calculated or measured directly.6,7 From those numbers you can calculate non-HDL cholesterol, a measure of the cholesterol carried by atherogenic lipoproteins,7 and the total-to-HDL ratio (total cholesterol divided by HDL). This calculator does that in either unit and puts the numbers in context.

Units
Total cholesterol
HDL
Triglycerides (optional)
LDL from lab (optional)

The formulas

Non-HDL cholesterol = total cholesterol − HDL.7 Friedewald LDL = total cholesterol − HDL − triglycerides/2.2 (mmol/L) or triglycerides/5 (mg/dL); the estimate should not be used when triglycerides exceed 4.5 mmol/L (400 mg/dL).1,7 Some laboratories measure LDL directly or calculate it in other ways, so your lab report may differ, sometimes meaningfully when triglycerides are high or LDL is very low.7

Context matters

The same LDL value means different things for a person with no other risk factors and for someone with diabetes, smoking or established cardiovascular disease.2,7 Treatment goals are set from overall risk, which is why the number alone does not tell you what to do.2,7

References

Every figure and statement in this tool is linked to a source: the original study where my article cites one, otherwise my own article on the topic. The small numbers in the text refer to this list.

  1. Friedewald et al. 1972. Estimation of the Concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Plasma, Without Use of the Preparative Ultracentrifuge. Clinical Chemistry.
  2. Dr. Antti Rintanen: LDL Cholesterol: What It Is, How to Read Your Result, and What It Means for Athletes
  3. Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration 2010. Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170 000 participants in 26 randomised trials. The Lancet.
  4. Nordestgaard et al. 2016. Fasting Is Not Routinely Required for Determination of a Lipid Profile: Clinical and Laboratory Implications Including Flagging at Desirable Concentration Cutpoints—A Joint Consensus Statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Clinical Chemistry.
  5. Tamer et al. 2026. Waist-to-height ratio, body fat, and macronutrient intake as predictors of lipid abnormalities in elite Turkish athletes: a comparative study. PeerJ.
  6. Dr. Antti Rintanen: Cholesterol in Athletes: What Your Lipid Panel Is Really Telling You
  7. Mach et al. 2019. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk. European Heart Journal.

Sources

This tool is based on the articles below and the studies cited in them:

This tool is for general education. It does not diagnose, interpret your own results, give personal recommendations or replace an assessment by your doctor.