LDL Cholesterol Test Results Explained: What Your Number Means

LDL 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 LDL 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 LDL Cholesterol measures

LDL carries cholesterol to your tissues; high levels can build up in artery walls, which is why it's called 'bad' cholesterol.

Why the test is done

As part of a lipid panel to estimate cardiovascular risk.

Typical reference ranges

Typical adult reference bands for LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Band	What it may mean
Optimal	An LDL below 100 mg/dL is considered optimal for most adults. People at high cardiovascular risk may be given even lower targets by their clinician.
Near optimal	100–129 mg/dL is near or above optimal — often fine, but your target depends on your overall heart-risk profile.
Borderline high	130–159 mg/dL is borderline high. Whether it matters depends on your other risk factors, which a clinician weighs together.
High	160–189 mg/dL is high and usually prompts a conversation about lifestyle and, for some, medication.
Very high	190 mg/dL or above is very high and warrants clinical evaluation; it can sometimes indicate an inherited cholesterol condition.

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 healthy LDL cholesterol level?

Below 100 mg/dL is optimal for most adults, with higher bands (borderline high 130–159, high 160–189, very high ≥190) signalling more concern. People at higher cardiovascular risk are often given lower personal targets.