Cholesterol Ratio
Total cholesterol alone says little. High HDL improves the ratio even when the total is high. Below 3.5 is the goal; 5 or more is considered risky.
Your numbers
Total : HDL
4
Non-HDL
150mg/dL
What it means
A ratio of 4 is average; aim below 3.5.
Formula
Total : HDL = Total cholesterol ÷ HDL
Test after 9–12 hours of fasting — triglycerides swing sharply with meals.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL)All the cholesterol in the blood, added up. | 200 | 50 ~ 500 |
| HDL (mg/dL)The kind that carries cholesterol back to the liver — higher is better. | 50 | 10 ~ 150 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Total cholesterol (mg/dL) changes and everything else stays put.
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | Total : HDL | Non-HDL (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2 | 50 |
| 150 | 3 | 100 |
| 200 | 4 | 150 |
| 300 | 6 | 250 |
| 400 | 8 | 350 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Total : HDLTotal cholesterol over HDL — lower is better. | 4 |
| Non-HDL (mg/dL)Everything except HDL. | 150 |
Common mistakes
Test after 9–12 hours of fasting — triglycerides swing sharply with meals.
Glossary
- Total cholesterol
- All the cholesterol in the blood, added up.
- HDL
- The kind that carries cholesterol back to the liver — higher is better.
- Total : HDL
- Total cholesterol over HDL — lower is better.
- Non-HDL
- Everything except HDL.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Cholesterol Ratio calculated?
Total : HDL = Total cholesterol ÷ HDL — Total cholesterol alone says little. High HDL improves the ratio even when the total is high. Below 3.5 is the goal; 5 or more is considered risky.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Total cholesterol 200mg/dL, HDL 50mg/dL, the answer is Total : HDL 4.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Total cholesterol, HDL. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Total cholesterol (mg/dL) moves the answer to Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 100 → Total : HDL 2 and Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 400 → Total : HDL 8. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
Test after 9–12 hours of fasting — triglycerides swing sharply with meals.
Related calculators
These calculators help you understand health figures; they do not replace diagnosis or prescription. See a clinician if you have symptoms.