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From a lipid panel, two summary numbers put your cholesterol in context. The total-to-HDL ratio is total cholesterol ÷ HDL — lower is better. Non-HDL cholesterol is total − HDL, capturing all the "bad" cholesterol in one figure; a desirable adult level is below 130 mg/dL. For total 200 and HDL 50, the ratio is 4.0 and non-HDL is 150. These are general guides — your clinician interprets your full panel.

Cholesterol Ratio Calculator — total/HDL & non-HDL

Total cholesterol 200 mg/dL with HDL 50 mg/dL.

Total-to-HDL ratio4
Non-HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)
150

Quick examples

How it's calculated

  1. Ratio = total cholesterol ÷ HDLratio=total cholesterolHDL\text{ratio} = \dfrac{\text{total cholesterol}}{\text{HDL}}
    total
    = 200
    hdl
    = 50
    4
  2. Non-HDL = total cholesterol − HDLnon-HDL=total cholesterol−HDL\text{non-HDL} = \text{total cholesterol} - \text{HDL}
    total
    = 200
    hdl
    = 50
    150
Total-to-HDL ratio4

How it works

A lipid panel reports several numbers; two derived figures summarize them usefully (Mayo Clinic; NIH MedlinePlus):

Total-to-HDL ratio = total cholesterol ÷ HDL

Non-HDL cholesterol = total cholesterol − HDL

HDL is the "good" cholesterol that carries cholesterol back to the liver, so dividing total by HDL gives a single ratio where a lower number is better — more of your cholesterol is the protective kind. Non-HDL cholesterol takes the opposite view: it strips out HDL to leave everything else — LDL and other atherogenic particles like VLDL — in one number. Because it captures all the cholesterol that can build up in arteries, non-HDL is increasingly emphasized, and unlike LDL it doesn't require fasting to be meaningful.

As general guidance for adults, a desirable total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL and a desirable non-HDL is below 130 mg/dL. The ideal targets for you depend on your age, blood pressure, weight, family history and overall cardiovascular risk — which is why these numbers inform a conversation with your provider rather than a self-diagnosis.

Worked example

For total cholesterol 200 and HDL 50 (mg/dL):

  • Ratio = 200 ÷ 50 = 4.0
  • Non-HDL = 200 − 50 = 150 mg/dL

Raise HDL to 60 and lower total to 180 and the picture improves: ratio 3.0 and non-HDL 120 — within the desirable range.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cholesterol ratio?

It is your total cholesterol divided by your HDL cholesterol. A lower ratio means a larger share of your cholesterol is the protective HDL type, which is generally more favorable.

What is non-HDL cholesterol?

Non-HDL is total cholesterol minus HDL. It sums up all the cholesterol that can contribute to arterial plaque (LDL and other particles) in a single number, and it doesn't require fasting.

What is a desirable non-HDL level?

For adults, a desirable non-HDL cholesterol is below 130 mg/dL, alongside a total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL. Your personal target may differ based on your overall risk.

Is a lower cholesterol ratio always better?

Generally a lower total-to-HDL ratio is more favorable, but no single number tells the whole story. Clinicians weigh LDL, non-HDL, triglycerides, blood pressure and other risk factors together.

Do I need to fast before the test?

Non-HDL and total cholesterol can be assessed without fasting, which is one advantage of non-HDL. Some panels (especially calculated LDL and triglycerides) are still often measured fasting — follow your provider's instructions.

Can I convert these to mmol/L?

Yes. Divide a mg/dL cholesterol value by 38.67 to get mmol/L. This calculator uses mg/dL; the ratio itself is unitless and the same in either system.

How we know this is right

Last reviewed
Aug 9, 2026
Precision
Rounded to 1 decimal place.
Read our methodology

Sources