LDL Cholesterol Calculator
Friedewald LDL from total, HDL and triglycerides
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LDL Cholesterol Calculator turns the numbers behind Friedewald LDL from total, HDL and triglycerides into a result, step by step. You supply Total Cholesterol (mg/dL), HDL (mg/dL) and Triglycerides (mg/dL) to LDL Cholesterol; the answer follows at once. The answer from LDL Cholesterol arrives with its working attached. LDL Cholesterol shines when speed matters. LDL Cholesterol is privacy-first: Health inputs stay offline. LDL Cholesterol sits in the Health section next to free online ldl cholesterol calculator and ldl calculator friedewald cholesterol trig. LDL Cholesterol goes from question to answer fast. LDL Cholesterol stays bookmarked for next time.
What the defaults give
Total cholesterol 200, HDL 50 and triglycerides 150 produce an LDL of 120 mg/dL.
The Friedewald formula estimates LDL rather than measuring it: it subtracts the cholesterol carried by HDL and by VLDL, and estimates the VLDL share as triglycerides ÷ 5.
The formula
LDL = total cholesterol − HDL − (triglycerides ÷ 5).
200 − 50 − (150 ÷ 5) = 200 − 50 − 30 = 120 mg/dL. The division by 5 works because, in mg/dL, VLDL cholesterol is roughly one fifth of the triglyceride value.
Worked example
Total 200 mg/dL
HDL 50 mg/dL
Triglycerides 150 mg/dL → TG/5 = 30
LDL = 200 − 50 − 30 = 120 mg/dL
Where 120 sits
Under 100 mg/dL is optimal, 100–129 is near-optimal, 130–159 borderline high, 160–189 high and 190 or above very high for most adults. So 120 is near-optimal in a general screening framework — but targets depend on overall cardiovascular risk, and for someone with established disease the goal is usually below 70.
When the formula breaks down
- Triglycerides above 400 mg/dL — the ÷5 estimate becomes unreliable, and laboratories switch to a direct measurement.
- Very low LDL — at values under about 70 the subtraction of two large numbers amplifies small measurement errors.
- Non-fasting samples — triglycerides rise after a meal, which inflates the estimated VLDL fraction and depresses the LDL result.
- Type III hyperlipoproteinaemia and some rare disorders — the VLDL composition differs and the assumption fails.
What LDL does not tell you
It is one number in a risk picture that includes age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history. Two people with an LDL of 120 can have very different ten-year risks, and treatment decisions follow the risk, not the single figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 200 − 50 − 30 give 120?
The Friedewald formula subtracts HDL cholesterol and estimated VLDL cholesterol (triglycerides ÷ 5) from total cholesterol. 200 − 50 − 30 = 120 mg/dL.
Is an LDL of 120 high?
It is near-optimal in general population terms (100–129), but targets are individual. For someone with diabetes or established heart disease the goal is typically below 70–100.
When is the Friedewald formula unreliable?
Chiefly when triglycerides exceed 400 mg/dL, when LDL is very low, and on non-fasting samples. Laboratories then measure LDL directly instead of estimating it.
Why divide triglycerides by 5?
Because in mg/dL the cholesterol content of VLDL is approximately one fifth of the triglyceride concentration. In mmol/L the divisor is 2.2, not 5.
Do I need to fast for this?
For an accurate Friedewald estimate, yes — fasting triglycerides are the input. Many modern labs use a direct LDL assay precisely so fasting is unnecessary.
What if my triglycerides are 150 in mmol/L?
They are not — 150 mmol/L is not a physiological value. Typical fasting triglycerides are 0.5–1.7 mmol/L, which converts to roughly 44–150 mg/dL. Enter the mg/dL figure; the ÷5 step belongs to that unit.
What LDL does a triglyceride of 300 give?
With total 200 and HDL 50: 200 - 50 - 60 = 90 mg/dL. The estimate still works below 400, but the subtraction is larger and the result is more sensitive to measurement error in each input.
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