Total Cholesterol Unit Converter (mg/dL ↔ mmol/L)

The cholesterol conversion factor and where it comes from

Total cholesterol is the sum of the cholesterol carried by all lipoproteins in serum, reported on a standard lipid panel. Total cholesterol is reported in mg/dL on U.S. lab reports and in mmol/L on UK, Canadian, Australian, and most European reports.

The standard conversion factor for total cholesterol is 0.02586, applied as mg/dL × 0.02586 = mmol/L (and mmol/L ÷ 0.02586 = mg/dL in reverse). The 0.02586 factor is shared by total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and VLDL because all four are reported as the mass of the same cholesterol molecule (molecular weight 386.65 g/mol). Source: AMA Manual of Style / UK Kidney Association SI conversion table.

Published reference intervals

The intervals below are reproduced from U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus: Cholesterol levels. They are listed here for unit reference only. Whether any value is in range for you depends on your laboratory's own reference range and your clinical context, so read them alongside your report and your healthcare provider, not in place of either.

Pre-computed cholesterol conversions

Dedicated answer pages for the cholesterol values people search for most. Each shows the answer, the math, and a table of nearby values.

mg/dL to mmol/L

• 40 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 50 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 55 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 70 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 100 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 150 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 200 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 220 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 250 mg/dL to mmol/L
• 300 mg/dL to mmol/L

mmol/L to mg/dL

• 1.4 mmol/L to mg/dL
• 1.8 mmol/L to mg/dL
• 4 mmol/L to mg/dL
• 5 mmol/L to mg/dL
• 7 mmol/L to mg/dL

Common questions

How do I convert total cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L?

Multiply by 0.02586: mg/dL × 0.02586 = mmol/L. To go the other way, divide by 0.02586 (or multiply by 38.67).

What is the total cholesterol conversion factor?

0.02586. The 0.02586 factor is shared by total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and VLDL because all four are reported as the mass of the same cholesterol molecule (molecular weight 386.65 g/mol).

Where is mg/dL used and where is mmol/L used?

Total cholesterol is reported in mg/dL on U.S. lab reports and in mmol/L on UK, Canadian, Australian, and most European reports.

Related converters and reference

• Full blood test unit converter: 60+ biomarkers, any value, either direction.
• nmol/L to mg/dL by substance: the molar-to-mass conversion depends on which substance you measured.
• HbA1c to average glucose (eAG) converter.