HDL Cholesterol Test Results Explained: What Your Number Means

HDL Cholesterol results, explained

Enter your value to see whether it falls in the typical range and what that means. This is an educational explainer — not a diagnosis, and your entry never leaves your browser.

Enter your HDL Cholesterol value

mg/dL

To convert from mmol/L, multiply by about 38.7.

This is educational, not a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary between labs and assays — the range printed on your report is the one that applies to you, and a single value is interpreted with your history and symptoms by a clinician. Your entry stays in your browser; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

Reference ranges: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) — Blood Cholesterol. View source

What HDL Cholesterol measures

HDL helps carry cholesterol away from arteries back to the liver, which is why higher levels are generally protective.

Why the test is done

As part of a lipid panel to estimate cardiovascular risk.

Typical reference ranges

Typical adult reference bands for HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Band	What it may mean
Lower than ideal	For women, an HDL below about 50 mg/dL (below 40 for men) is considered low and is linked to higher heart risk. Exercise, not smoking, and healthy fats can help.
Intermediate	An HDL in the 50s (40s for men) is intermediate — neither a red flag nor especially protective on its own.
Protective range	An HDL of 60 mg/dL or above is considered protective against heart disease for most people.

Ranges shown are typical adult values from NHLBI, National Institutes of Health; your own lab's printed range applies to you. View source.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good HDL level for women?

For women, an HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is considered protective, while below about 50 mg/dL is considered low (below 40 mg/dL for men) and is linked with higher cardiovascular risk.