LDL Cholesterol

Measured in mg/dL

The cholesterol carried by LDL particles, which can build up in artery walls — usually calculated rather than measured directly.

What it is

LDL cholesterol measures how much cholesterol is being carried by low-density lipoprotein particles, the ones most associated with buildup in artery walls over time. On most standard panels it isn't measured directly but estimated with a formula from your other lipid results, which can make it less reliable when triglycerides are high or when you haven't fasted. It's commonly reviewed alongside non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and sometimes apolipoprotein B, because those can give a fuller picture of particle burden; targets also depend a lot on a person's individual risk profile rather than one universal number.

Typical range

  • Adultsunder 100 mg/dL

Source · NCEP ATP III (Optimal) (2002)

Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and what is normal for you depends on your own history. Your own lab’s range is the one printed on your report.

Worth asking your clinician

  • Was my LDL calculated or directly measured, and does that matter for how we read it?
  • Given my personal risk factors, what would you consider a reasonable LDL range for me?
  • Would non-HDL cholesterol or apolipoprotein B add useful context to my LDL result?