Your cholesterol levels show how much cholesterol is circulating in your blood. Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high (ideally above 60). Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200. Talk with your provider about what your results mean for you and how to manage your cholesterol.
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Your cholesterol levels are important because they help you know your risk for heart disease. Cholesterol is a type of lipid (fat) that helps your body perform many important functions. But too much cholesterol in your blood is harmful. It can enter your artery wall, damage its integrity and lead to atherosclerotic plaque (hardened deposits) forming.
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This process of plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis. It can lead to serious problems like:
Cholesterol travels through your blood silently. And it turns into plaque silently. Plaque buildup is like someone tiptoeing on a carpet. You might not see or notice its presence for a long time. You may have no symptoms until you have a heart attack or stroke. At that point, the plaque is like high heels on a hardwood floor. And it’s already caused serious damage to your body.
You can live for many years with high cholesterol and not even know it. That’s why it’s essential to get your cholesterol numbers checked on a regular basis. If your cholesterol numbers are too high (hyperlipidemia), that’s a red flag for you and your healthcare provider.
Many people have high cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. But you’re not stuck with the cholesterol numbers you have. It’s possible to change them. Catching high cholesterol early gives you a chance to make changes and achieve good cholesterol numbers.
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The main cholesterol levels your provider checks are:
Your provider checks your cholesterol levels with a blood test they call a lipid panel (or lipid profile). A provider will draw blood from a vein in your arm and send the blood to a lab for analysis. Be sure to closely follow your provider’s instructions on how to prepare for the test. You’ll likely need to fast for 12 hours beforehand. This means avoiding all foods and drinks except water.
When your results come in, your provider will let you know. You may also be able to access your results through your electronic medical record.
Healthcare providers measure cholesterol levels as milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. The abbreviation is mg/dL. Providers use these same units to measure your triglycerides.
Normal cholesterol levels vary based on your age, ethnicity and sex assigned at birth.
The chart below shows normal cholesterol levels. Healthcare providers consider these good cholesterol numbers for most people. If you have heart disease or many risk factors, your LDL target may be different. Your healthcare provider may want your LDL level to be below 70 mg/dL. So, it’s important to talk with your provider about your test results and what they mean for you.
All units in the chart below are mg/dL.
Age | Total cholesterol | Triglycerides | LDL cholesterol | HDL cholesterol |
---|---|---|---|---|
19 and younger | Below 170 | Below 150 | Below 110 | Above 45 |
20 and older; assigned male at birth | 125 to 200 | Below 150 | Below 100 | 40 or higher |
20 and older; assigned female at birth | 125 to 200 | Below 150 | Below 100 | 50 or higher |
Age | ||||
19 and younger | ||||
Total cholesterol | ||||
Below 170 | ||||
Triglycerides | ||||
Below 150 | ||||
LDL cholesterol | ||||
Below 110 | ||||
HDL cholesterol | ||||
Above 45 | ||||
20 and older; assigned male at birth | ||||
Total cholesterol | ||||
125 to 200 | ||||
Triglycerides | ||||
Below 150 | ||||
LDL cholesterol | ||||
Below 100 | ||||
HDL cholesterol | ||||
40 or higher | ||||
20 and older; assigned female at birth | ||||
Total cholesterol | ||||
125 to 200 | ||||
Triglycerides | ||||
Below 150 | ||||
LDL cholesterol | ||||
Below 100 | ||||
HDL cholesterol | ||||
50 or higher |
As you review your results, remember that you want your LDL to be low and your HDL to be high. Ideally, your HDL should be above 60 to offer you protection against heart disease.
Most normal cholesterol levels are the same regardless of your sex. But there’s one key difference among adults. That’s your HDL number. As the chart above shows, people assigned female at birth (AFAB) need a higher HDL level (at least 50) compared to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) (at least 40).
High cholesterol generally means your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher. But providers use additional categories like “borderline high” and “near optimal” to break down your results. If your numbers are close to normal levels, they may be easier to manage through lifestyle and dietary changes.
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The chart below shows cholesterol levels that are higher than normal. All units are mg/dL.
Age | Total cholesterol | Non-HDL cholesterol | LDL cholesterol |
---|---|---|---|
19 and younger | Borderline high: 170-199; High: 200 or higher | Borderline high: 120-144; High: 145 or higher | Borderline high: 110-129; High: 130 or higher |
20 and older | Borderline high: 200-239; High: 240 or higher | High: 130 or higher | Near-optimal: 100-129; Borderline high: 130-159; High: 160-189; Very high: 190 or higher |
Age | |||
19 and younger | |||
Total cholesterol | |||
Borderline high: 170-199; High: 200 or higher | |||
Non-HDL cholesterol | |||
Borderline high: 120-144; High: 145 or higher | |||
LDL cholesterol | |||
Borderline high: 110-129; High: 130 or higher | |||
20 and older | |||
Total cholesterol | |||
Borderline high: 200-239; High: 240 or higher | |||
Non-HDL cholesterol | |||
High: 130 or higher | |||
LDL cholesterol | |||
Near-optimal: 100-129; Borderline high: 130-159; High: 160-189; Very high: 190 or higher |
There are upper limits for your total cholesterol. Lower is better — as low as you can go. Researchers have found that a lower LDL is better. They haven’t set a lower limit for it. The higher your HDL number is, the better it is for you. So your LDL can’t be too low and your HDL can’t be too high.
Your provider will tell you how often you need your cholesterol checked. It depends on your:
Children should get their first test between ages 9 and 11. Then, they should receive a test every five years. Your child’s provider may recommend starting at a younger age based on family history.
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Here are general guidelines for adults based on sex and age.
Age | How often to get your cholesterol checked |
---|---|
20 to 44 | Every five years. |
45 to 65 | Every one to two years. |
65+ | Every year. |
Age | |
20 to 44 | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every five years. | |
45 to 65 | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every one to two years. | |
65+ | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every year. |
Age | How often to get your cholesterol checked |
---|---|
20 to 54 | Every five years. |
55 to 65 | Every one to two years. |
65+ | Every year. |
Age | |
20 to 54 | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every five years. | |
55 to 65 | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every one to two years. | |
65+ | |
How often to get your cholesterol checked | |
Every year. |
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Knowing your cholesterol numbers can help you learn your risk for heart disease. But keep in mind that your cholesterol numbers are just part of the story. Your provider will also look at other aspects of your health to learn more about your risks. So, if your numbers fall outside the normal range, don’t panic. Talk with your provider about what your cholesterol levels mean in the context of your overall health. And work with your provider to get your numbers back to a healthier place.
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Last reviewed on 07/19/2022.
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