What should my total cholesterol level be?

For most healthy adults, total cholesterol should be:

• Below 5.0 mmol/L (if measured in the UK using the NHS Cholesterol Guidelines)
• Below 200 mg/dL (if measured in the US using standard units)¹²

Target Breakdown by Region & Measurement Unit

In the UK (measured in mmol/L)

• Total cholesterol: Below 5.0 mmol/L (or below 4.0 mmol/L if you have a history of heart disease or a high risk of stroke)
• HDL ("good" cholesterol): Above 1.0 mmol/L for men; above 1.2 mmol/L for women
• Non-HDL ("bad" cholesterol): Below 4.0 mmol/L (or lower if at high risk)¹²

In the US / International Units (measured in mg/dL)

• Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL (200–239 mg/dL is borderline high; 240 mg/dL or higher is high)
• LDL ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL
• HDL ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher for men; 50 mg/dL or higher for women (60 mg/dL or higher is considered optimal)¹²

Why Total Cholesterol Isn't the Whole Story

A single total cholesterol number combines both good (HDL) and bad (non-HDL or LDL) cholesterol. Doctors look at the full lipid profile—including your HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and overall cardiovascular risk factors (like blood pressure, age, and whether you smoke)—to decide if a number is truly healthy for you.¹²³⁴⁵To help tailor this information, could you share:

• Which units your test results use (mmol/L or mg/dL)?
• Whether you have any history of heart conditions, high blood pressure, or diabetes?

According to the NHS Cholesterol GuidelinesNHS Cholesterol Guidelines, general target levels for healthy adults are structured as follows:¹

• Total Cholesterol: Below 5 mmol/L
• HDL ("Good") Cholesterol: Above 1.0 mmol/L for men, or above 1.2 mmol/L for women
• Non-HDL ("Bad") Cholesterol: Below 4 mmol/L¹

Individual Risk Factors

Your ideal target can vary depending on your personal health profile. Doctors evaluate more than just a single number; they assess your overall 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease using tools like the QRISK scoreQRISK score.

• Lower targets are often recommended if you have pre-existing heart disease, a stroke history, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of early cardiovascular conditions.
• For instance, NICE Guidance on Cardiovascular DiseaseNICE Guidance on Cardiovascular Disease often suggests stricter secondary-prevention targets (such as non-HDL levels around or below 2.6 mmol/L) for individuals already managing heart conditions or high cardiovascular risk.¹

To help me give you more relevant context, could you share:

• Whether you are looking at your own test results
• If you have any existing health conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure)
• If a doctor has already given you a specific target range

For most adults, a healthy total cholesterol level is below 5.0 mmol/L (the UK measurement).

Healthy cholesterol levels (UK)

What do total cholesterol results mean?

A few important points

• Your overall heart health risk matters more than total cholesterol alone.
• HDL, LDL and non-HDL levels are important too.
• Blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, age and family history also affect your cardiovascular risk.

I can help interpret your cholesterol results.

If you tell me your:

1. Total cholesterol
2. HDL cholesterol
3. LDL cholesterol (if available)
4. Triglycerides (if available)

I can explain whether your levels are healthy and what they mean for your heart health.