Lipid Profile Test Normal Range: Cholesterol, LDL and HDL

Published: 21 October 2026 | Updated: 21 October 2026 | By MCT Clinic and Diagnostic Centre, a unit of Millat Charitable Trust

For information only, not medical advice. This guide explains a common blood test in general terms. It cannot diagnose you. Please discuss your report and any symptoms with a qualified doctor.

A lipid profile, also called a lipid panel or cholesterol test, is a blood test that measures the fats in your blood: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Doctors use it to judge the risk of heart disease and stroke, often alongside blood sugar and blood pressure. The report has several lines and several units, so it is easy to be confused. This guide explains each number, the healthy levels that laboratories commonly use for men, women and young people, and how to prepare so that your result is reliable.

The information below comes from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) and the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Links are listed at the end of the page.

What a lipid profile measures

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the blood and in every cell. The body needs some of it to make hormones, vitamin D and substances that help digest food. The liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs; more comes from animal foods such as meat, egg yolks and dairy. When there is too much in the blood, it can build up in the walls of arteries as plaque, a process called atherosclerosis, which narrows the arteries over time.

LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol. According to MedlinePlus it is the main source of blockages in the arteries.
HDL cholesterol is "good" cholesterol. It helps remove LDL, and a higher HDL may help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Total cholesterol is the overall amount, including HDL and LDL.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood. The body turns extra calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. High levels may increase the risk of heart disease.
Non-HDL cholesterol is total cholesterol minus HDL. NHLBI notes that many reports now include it.
VLDL mainly carries triglycerides. It is difficult to measure directly, so labs usually estimate it from the triglyceride level.

At our centre, the lipid profile, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol are listed in the diagnostics catalogue.

Lipid profile normal range for adults

Results are usually reported in milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). MedlinePlus gives these healthy levels for people aged 20 or older:

Test	Men aged 20 or older	Women aged 20 or older
Total cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dL	Less than 200 mg/dL
Non-HDL cholesterol	Less than 130 mg/dL	Less than 130 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol	Less than 100 mg/dL	Less than 100 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol	60 mg/dL or more is best; below 40 is low	60 mg/dL or more is best; below 50 is low

For triglycerides, the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia gives these levels:

Triglyceride level	mg/dL	mmol/L
Normal	Less than 150	Less than 1.69
Borderline high	150 to 199	1.69 to 2.25
High	200 to 499	2.26 to 5.64
Very high	500 or above	5.65 or above

NHLBI describes the goal for a healthy lipid profile as non-HDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dL, with HDL of at least 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women. Ranges can vary slightly between laboratories, so read your result against the range printed on your own report.

Normal range for children and young people

For anyone aged 19 or younger, MedlinePlus lists healthy levels as total cholesterol less than 170 mg/dL, non-HDL less than 120 mg/dL, LDL less than 110 mg/dL and HDL more than 45 mg/dL. MedlinePlus notes that the first test is generally advised between ages 9 and 11, and that some children are tested from age 2 if there is a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack or stroke.

How to read your report

"Calculated" LDL. Many reports estimate LDL from total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides; others measure it directly. Either way, a lower LDL is better.
Look at the whole picture. MedlinePlus points out that a healthy level for you can depend on your age, family history, lifestyle and other risk factors such as high triglycerides. Your doctor may therefore set a different target for you.
Very high triglycerides need attention. According to MedlinePlus, a very high triglyceride level can also cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Compare with earlier reports. A trend over months tells your doctor more than a single number.

Do you need to fast for a lipid profile?

Sometimes. MedlinePlus says you may need to fast, with no food or drink, for 9 to 12 hours before a cholesterol test, which is why it is often done in the morning. NHLBI says your provider may ask you to fast for 8 to 12 hours. Your doctor will tell you whether a fasting sample is needed in your case.

Plain water is normally allowed during a fast; our guide on how to prepare for a fasting blood test explains the details.
MedlinePlus notes that alcohol and some medicines can affect triglyceride results. Tell your doctor about every medicine and supplement you take, but do not stop any medicine on your own.
If you have eaten, tell the lab staff, so that the result can be read correctly or the test rescheduled.

How often should adults get tested?

MedlinePlus summarises general recommendations: younger adults every 5 years, and men aged 45 to 65 and women aged 55 to 65 every 1 to 2 years. People at higher risk, for example because of diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking or a family history of heart disease, may need testing more often. These are general figures; your doctor will advise a schedule for you.

If your cholesterol is high

MedlinePlus lists steps that can lower LDL and reduce risk: eat a diet lower in saturated fat, manage your weight, stay physically active, stop smoking (smoking lowers HDL and raises LDL), reduce stress and avoid drinking too much alcohol. For high triglycerides, MedlinePlus says treatment focuses on more exercise and changes in diet, with medicines used in some cases. Talk to your doctor before making major changes to diet or exercise.

High cholesterol often travels with high blood sugar. Your doctor may order an HbA1c test with your lipid profile, and our physicians can review both reports; see our doctors.

See our lab tests

Frequently asked questions

What is the normal range for a lipid profile?

For adults aged 20 or older, MedlinePlus gives healthy levels as total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL below 100 mg/dL, non-HDL below 130 mg/dL and HDL of 60 mg/dL or more. Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL are normal. Always compare with the range printed on your own report.

What is a normal HDL level for men and women?

MedlinePlus says an HDL of 60 mg/dL or more is best for both. HDL is considered low below 40 mg/dL in men and below 50 mg/dL in women.

Do I need to fast before a lipid profile test?

You may. MedlinePlus says fasting for 9 to 12 hours may be needed, and NHLBI says your provider may ask you to fast for 8 to 12 hours. Your doctor will tell you if a fasting sample is required. Water is normally allowed.

What does a high triglyceride level mean?

MedlinePlus classes 150 to 199 mg/dL as borderline high, 200 to 499 as high and 500 or above as very high. High levels may raise heart disease risk, and very high levels can cause pancreatitis. Diet, exercise and sometimes medicine are used to lower them.

What is non-HDL cholesterol?

It is total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. NHLBI describes a healthy goal as non-HDL below 130 mg/dL for adults, with HDL of at least 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women.

For information only, not medical advice. This page does not replace advice from your doctor.

Lipid Profile Test Normal Range: Cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Triglycerides