Non-HDL Cholesterol

Measured in mg/dL

All the cholesterol in your blood except the HDL portion — a simple way to capture the particles associated with artery buildup.

What it is

Non-HDL cholesterol is simply your total cholesterol minus your HDL, which leaves the cholesterol carried by LDL and other particles that can contribute to buildup in artery walls. Because it's straightforward subtraction rather than a formula, it stays reliable even when triglycerides are high or you haven't fasted — situations where calculated LDL can be off. It's commonly reviewed alongside LDL and sometimes apolipoprotein B, though it still reflects cholesterol content rather than the actual number of particles, which is a different thing.

Typical range

  • Adultsunder 130 mg/dL

Source · 2026 ACC/AHA (loosest goal) (2026)

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

  • How does my non-HDL cholesterol compare with my LDL, and does the difference tell us anything?
  • Given my risk profile, which of these numbers do you find most useful to follow?
  • Is non-HDL cholesterol something we should track over time for me?