Cholesterol Units Converter
200 mg/dL total cholesterol is 5.17 mmol/L, and 5.2 mmol/L is 201.08 mg/dL. This cholesterol units converter switches total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol between mg/dL and mmol/L using the cholesterol factor of 38.67. It is built for cholesterol only. Blood glucose uses a different factor, 18.0182, so do not use this tool or the glucose converter to swap conversion factors between the two.
Quick answer
For cholesterol, 1 mmol/L equals 38.67 mg/dL.
Cholesterol uses the factor 38.67. Glucose does not. Blood glucose uses a different factor, 18.0182.
This tool converts units only. It does not estimate cardiovascular risk or tell you whether a cholesterol result is healthy for you.
What this tells you
- •For cholesterol, 1 mmol/L equals 38.67 mg/dL.
- •To convert mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by 38.67.
- •To convert mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 38.67.
- •Glucose uses a different factor, 18.0182, so this calculator is cholesterol only.
How to Use
- 1Enter the cholesterol value from your lab report.
- 2Choose the direction, mmol/L to mg/dL or mg/dL to mmol/L.
- 3Click Convert to see the converted cholesterol value.
- 4If you are converting glucose, stop and use a glucose-specific converter with the 18.0182 factor instead.
How It Works
Formula
Cholesterol mg/dL = cholesterol mmol/L × 38.67
Cholesterol mmol/L = cholesterol mg/dL ÷ 38.67Cholesterol uses a fixed molecular-weight conversion of 38.67, based on cholesterol's molar mass. Multiply by 38.67 to move from mmol/L to mg/dL, or divide by 38.67 to go the other way. This factor applies to total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol. It is different from the glucose factor of 18.0182 and the two must not be mixed.
Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.
Worked Examples
Convert 5.2 mmol/L total cholesterol to mg/dL
Multiply 5.2 by 38.67 to get 201.084 mg/dL, which rounds to 201.08 mg/dL.
Convert 200 mg/dL total cholesterol to mmol/L
Divide 200 by 38.67 to get 5.1719679338 mmol/L, which rounds to 5.172 mmol/L.
Common Cholesterol Unit Conversions
Quick cholesterol lookups using the cholesterol factor of 38.67.
| mg/dL | mmol/L |
|---|---|
| 150 | 3.88 |
| 180 | 4.65 |
| 200 | 5.17 |
| 220 | 5.69 |
| 240 | 6.21 |
| 300 | 7.76 |
This table is for cholesterol only. Blood glucose uses a different factor, 18.0182.
Common mistakes
- Using the glucose factor, 18.0182, on a cholesterol value. Cholesterol needs the 38.67 factor.
- Mixing up total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL when reading a converted number.
- Treating a converted value as a diagnosis instead of a unit change.
Limitations
This tool converts cholesterol units only. It assumes the input is total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol reported by a standard lab, and it does not adjust for triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol, or lab-specific reference ranges. It does not estimate cardiovascular risk or tell you whether a result is healthy for your age, sex, or medical history. Blood glucose uses a different factor, 18.0182, and should not be converted with this calculator.