LDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/L
Convert ldl cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L
Sources last checked: 2026-11-03
LDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/L
Convert ldl cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L
Converts units only; reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the assay and the patient.
What is the LDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/L?
This converter turns LDL cholesterol from mg/dL, the unit on most German, Austrian, Turkish and US lab reports, into mmol/L, used in the UK, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and in many European guidelines. It multiplies by 0.0259, the cholesterol factor from the AMA Manual of Style SI table, because LDL-C is reported as the mass of cholesterol carried in LDL particles (cholesterol molar mass 386.7 g/mol).
When to use it
- Checking a mg/dL LDL result against a guideline table printed in mmol/L
- Comparing LDL values from labs or trials that use different units
- Preparing a case presentation or paper for an international audience
When not to use it
- Apolipoprotein B or LDL particle number — different measurements with different units
- Setting a treatment goal: LDL targets depend on the risk category and the guideline used
How it is calculated
LDL-C (mmol/L) = LDL-C (mg/dL) × 0.0259
Clinical pearls and limitations
- Converts units only; reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the assay and the patient.
- Check whether the LDL on the report was measured directly or calculated (Friedewald, Martin-Hopkins, Sampson); the unit conversion is the same, but calculated values become unreliable at high triglycerides or very low LDL.
- If you calculate LDL yourself, do it in one unit system and convert at the end.
- Rounding a target in mmol/L to one decimal and converting back can shift it by a few mg/dL — use the pair a guideline prints if it gives both.
- The same factor applies to total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert LDL from mg/dL to mmol/L?
Multiply by 0.0259. For example, 116 mg/dL × 0.0259 = 3.0044, about 3.00 mmol/L.
What is 55 mg/dL LDL in mmol/L?
55 × 0.0259 = 1.4245, which rounds to 1.42 mmol/L.
What is 100 mg/dL LDL in mmol/L?
100 × 0.0259 = 2.59 mmol/L.
Evidence and guidelines
Have a follow-up question?
Medelix answers clinical questions from current guidelines and studies — every statement with its source.
Related calculators
- LDL cholesterol mmol/L → mg/dLConvert ldl cholesterol from mmol/L to mg/dL
- LDL cholesterol (Friedewald)Calculated LDL-C in mmol/L, read against ESC/EAS 2019 targets
- SCORE2 (ESC 2021, age 40–69)10-year risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease in apparently healthy Europeans aged 40–69
- Cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/LConvert cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/LConvert hdl cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L
Embed this calculatorFree to use on your website, intranet or teaching page. Copy the code below.
<iframe src="https://medelix.ai/en/embed/ldl-mgdl-to-mmol" title="LDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/L – Medelix" width="100%" height="620" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://medelix.ai/en/calculators/ldl-cholesterol-mg-dl-to-mmol-l">LDL cholesterol mg/dL → mmol/L calculator by Medelix</a></p>For healthcare professionals and medical students. These tools support, and do not replace, clinical judgement. Always check results against the original source and your local protocols.