Cholesterol Ratio Calculator: Total/HDL and LDL/HDL
Total/HDL ratio = total cholesterol ÷ HDL cholesterol; LDL/HDL ratio = LDL ÷ HDL. With a total of 200 and HDL of 50, the ratio is 4.0. Enter your numbers below. We show the maths and the sources, not a good-or-bad label, because guidelines do not set a target for the ratio.
Calculate
Use one unit for all three, mg/dL or mmol/L. The ratio is the same either way.
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How it works
- Enter your lipid panel values from your lab report.
- We divide. Total ÷ HDL, LDL ÷ HDL, and total minus HDL for non-HDL.
- Bring the result to your care team. They weigh it with your risk.
What guidelines use instead
The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline and the ADA Standards of Care (Section 10, cardiovascular risk management) base treatment decisions on a person’s risk and on LDL cholesterol, not on a cholesterol ratio. Researchers study ratios such as LDL-C/HDL-C as markers of risk; one peer-reviewed study found the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio tracked carotid artery wall thickness progression better than either number alone. That is research on groups, not a personal target.
You will see “below 5” or “below 3.5” online for total/HDL. We could not trace those figures to the ADA or AHA/ACC, so this tool does not grade your result. If a clinician has given you a target, use theirs.
Related checks
Heart and kidney risk are linked for people with diabetes: see blood pressure, your eGFR and A1C.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my cholesterol ratio?
Divide total cholesterol by HDL cholesterol for the total/HDL ratio, and LDL by HDL for the LDL/HDL ratio. Use the same unit for both numbers. For example, 200 ÷ 50 = 4.0.
What is a good cholesterol ratio?
We found no target for these ratios in the ADA Standards or in the 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline, which base decisions on LDL cholesterol and overall risk. Numbers like 3.5 or 5 are widely quoted online, but we could not trace them to a guideline, so we do not label results.
What is non-HDL cholesterol?
Total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. It counts all the cholesterol in particles that are not HDL. We show it because it needs no extra lab test.
Do I need to fast?
Ask your clinician or lab; instructions differ by test. This calculator only divides numbers you already have.
Does this tell me whether I need medicine?
No. Treatment decisions rest on your risk, your LDL level and other factors. Talk with your care team.
Information only, not medical advice. Your care team may set different targets for you, and only a lab test ordered by a clinician can diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. See our medical disclaimer.
Sources
- ADA Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026, Section 10: Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management
- Grundy SM et al. 2018 AHA/ACC multisociety guideline on the management of blood cholesterol. Circulation 2019;139:e1082
- LDL-C/HDL-C ratio predicts carotid intima-media thickness progression better than HDL-C or LDL-C alone (peer-reviewed article, PMC3136137)
Last reviewed: by the Diabetes Blogs editorial team. Information only, not medical advice.
