HDL cholesterol: normal range, high and low

In short60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L) or more is best. Below 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) is considered low for men, and below 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) for women.

Reference ranges

Group	Reference range
Best	60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L) or more
Men age 20 or older	More than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L); below 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) is considered low
Women age 20 or older	More than 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L); below 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) is considered low
Age 19 or younger	More than 45 mg/dL (1.17 mmol/L)

Ranges vary slightly among laboratories. For HDL, higher numbers are better — this is the one lipid value that should not fall below its threshold.

Check your value

Enter the number from your lab report — see how it compares with the typical range. Mind the units shown in the chosen row.

A rough comparison with a typical range, not a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary between laboratories — check the range on your own report and let a clinician interpret the result.

What this marker is

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. Like LDL, it is a combination of fat and protein that moves cholesterol through the blood — but in the opposite direction. HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver, and the liver then removes the cholesterol from the body. That is why HDL earned the name “good” cholesterol.

With HDL, higher numbers are better: a high HDL level can lower the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. It is the one lipid number providers like to see rise. How high it should be depends on age and sex, with women needing a higher level than men.

HDL is measured within the lipid profile, together with total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. Read together, the fractions describe cardiovascular risk far better than any single number: a person with a normal total cholesterol but a low HDL is read differently from one whose HDL is high.

The preparation follows the lipid panel: no food for 9 to 12 hours before the draw. If HDL is too low, lifestyle changes can raise it — a healthy diet with good fats instead of saturated fats being the first lever.

When it is high

Higher is generally betterA high HDL level is protective: it means more cholesterol is being carried back to the liver for removal, which lowers the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.

When it is low

A risk factor, not a diseaseA low HDL does not cause symptoms by itself; it removes one of the body's protections against cholesterol buildup in the arteries.

Sex-specific thresholdsBelow 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) is low for men, and below 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) is low for women — women need the higher level.

What pushes it downSaturated fats in the diet — full-fat milk and cheese, high-fat meats, butter-based foods — work against HDL; replacing them with good fats is the standard lifestyle advice.

What can skew the result

These factors can shift the value without any disease — worth considering before a retest:

Diet (saturated fats lower it, good fats raise it)Food within 9–12 hours before the testCertain medicines

How to prepare

HDL is measured within the lipid profile: no food for 9 to 12 hours before the draw. Tell your provider about the medicines and supplements you take.

When a retest makes sense

HDL is rechecked with the rest of the lipid profile on the schedule set by age and risk factors. When the level is low, lifestyle changes are the first step, and the follow-up test shows whether they worked.

Who usually reviews this result

A result outside the reference range is usually reviewed by: your GP or primary care doctor; a cardiologist if cardiovascular risk is the concern. Bring your lab report and any previous results to the appointment.

Names used on lab reports

Your report may use any of these names:
HDLHDL cholesterolHigh-density lipoproteinGood cholesterol

Units and conversion

Measured in: mg/dL

mg/dL = mmol/L

mg/dL × 0.0259 = mmol/L. Example: 60 mg/dL = 1.55 mmol/L. Results are rounded to 2 decimal places.

Several markers on your report?

See how MedProtect explains results in the app: the whole report, a check of the recognized values, and a clear breakdown.

Get your results explained See an example

Frequently asked questions

Why is HDL called “good” cholesterol?

Because of its route: HDL picks up cholesterol from around the body and delivers it back to the liver, which removes it. More HDL means more cholesterol being cleared instead of deposited in artery walls.

Can lifestyle really raise HDL?

Yes. Diet is the first lever — replacing saturated fats (full-fat dairy, high-fat meats, butter-based foods) with good fats. Lifestyle changes that raise HDL also help prevent other diseases.

My total cholesterol is normal — why does HDL matter?

The total sums all fractions. A normal total can hide a low HDL, and low HDL means a missing layer of cardiovascular protection. That is why providers read the whole lipid profile rather than the total alone.

Sources

Cholesterol Levels: MedlinePlus Medical Test — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 29, 2026.
HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol: MedlinePlus — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 29, 2026.
Lipid profile test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 29, 2026.

HDL cholesterol