5 mg/dL to mmol/L
mmol/L is a molar unit, so the answer depends on which biomarker the mg/dL reading came from. Find your biomarker below.
| Biomarker | Factor | 5 mg/dL = |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose | 0.0555 | 0.2775 mmol/L |
| Total cholesterol | 0.02586 | 0.1293 mmol/L |
| LDL cholesterol | 0.02586 | 0.1293 mmol/L |
| HDL cholesterol | 0.02586 | 0.1293 mmol/L |
| VLDL cholesterol | 0.02586 | 0.1293 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides | 0.01129 | 0.0565 mmol/L |
| Calcium (total) | 0.2495 | 1.248 mmol/L |
| Magnesium | 0.4114 | 2.057 mmol/L |
| BUN (urea nitrogen) | 0.3571 | 1.785 mmol/L |
Why one mg/dL value has many mmol/L answers
mg/dL is a mass-per-volume unit (milligrams per deciliter). mmol/L is a moles-per-volume unit. To go from one to the other you have to know how heavy a single molecule of the substance is, because that determines how many moles fit in a given mass. Glucose molecules weigh about 180 g/mol; cholesterol weighs about 387 g/mol; a calcium ion weighs about 40 g/mol. The same 5 mg/dL reading therefore lands on different mmol/L numbers for each.
How to know which biomarker your reading is
Check the test name printed on the lab report next to the mg/dL value. The most common candidates are listed in the table above. If the test report uses an abbreviation you don't recognise, see our lab abbreviations reference.
Open this value in the live converter
Pick a biomarker to see the answer with the full per-biomarker derivation, or open the converter pre-filled at this value:
- 5 mg/dL of glucose in mmol/L
- 5 mg/dL of LDL cholesterol in mmol/L
- 5 mg/dL of total cholesterol in mmol/L
- 5 mg/dL of triglycerides in mmol/L
Common questions
What is 5 mg/dL in mmol/L?
It depends on the biomarker. See the table on this page for per-biomarker answers.
Why does mg/dL to mmol/L have different answers?
mmol/L is a molar concentration, so each substance's mg/dL ↔ mmol/L factor is determined by its molecular weight. Glucose (180 g/mol) has a different factor than cholesterol (387 g/mol).
Which biomarker is most likely intended?
In primary-care lab reports, an mg/dL value is most often glucose, total/LDL/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, magnesium, or BUN. Check the test name printed on your lab report.
Use the live converter for any biomarker
For biomarkers not listed here, use the full blood test unit converter. It supports 50+ biomarkers in both directions.
Stop guessing which biomarker your number belongs to
Health3 imports your full lab report so the unit and biomarker are always identified for you. Free.