Non-HDL Cholesterol Calculator

Non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL. It adds up the cholesterol carried by every artery-clogging particle at once, including LDL, VLDL, IDL, and remnant lipoproteins. Because it does not rely on triglycerides or a fasting sample the way a Friedewald LDL estimate does, many guidelines treat it as a more complete marker of cardiovascular risk.

Subtract your HDL from your total cholesterol. In other words, non-HDL equals total cholesterol minus HDL. For example, a total of 200 mg/dL and an HDL of 50 mg/dL give a non-HDL of 150 mg/dL. This calculator does the subtraction in whichever unit you choose and converts between mg/dL and mmol/L for you.

NCEP ATP III calls a non-HDL below 130 mg/dL desirable, 130 to 159 above desirable, 160 to 189 borderline high, 190 to 219 high, and 220 or above very high. Treatment goals get stricter as your cardiovascular risk rises. The 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines target below 100 mg/dL for high risk and below 85 mg/dL for very high risk, so use the risk selector to see the goal that applies to you.

A standard LDL value is often estimated with the Friedewald formula, which needs a fasting sample and becomes unreliable once triglycerides reach 400 mg/dL. Non-HDL needs only total cholesterol and HDL, so it stays accurate in non-fasting samples and high-triglyceride states. It also captures the VLDL and remnant cholesterol that an LDL-only number misses, which is why each non-HDL goal sits 30 mg/dL above the matching LDL goal.

The same habits that lower LDL also lower non-HDL. Cut saturated and trans fats, add soluble fiber, lose excess weight, stay physically active, and stop smoking. When triglycerides are high, reducing refined carbohydrates and alcohol helps too. If lifestyle changes are not enough, your clinician may add a statin or other lipid-lowering medication.

No. This calculator is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use the total cholesterol and HDL numbers from a lab lipid panel for the most accurate result, and talk with your healthcare provider about what your non-HDL level means for you.