Non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol: the cholesterol carried in all the particles that can build up in artery walls, including LDL, VLDL and Lp(a).
Also called: Non-HDL-C, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
General information, not medical advice
Ranges and goals vary with your overall heart risk and between labs. Go through your own results with your doctor or another qualified health professional.
What it measures
Non-HDL cholesterol adds up the cholesterol in LDL, VLDL, their remnants and Lp(a). It costs nothing extra: non-HDL = total cholesterol − HDL, from any standard panel, fasting or not. For example, a total of 5.5 mmol/L with an HDL of 1.3 gives a non-HDL of 4.2 mmol/L.
The 2026 ACC/AHA guideline calls it a better predictor of heart risk than LDL, and particularly useful when triglycerides are 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or more. It also tracks ApoB closely. In the UK, the NHS and NICE use non-HDL as the main treatment number.
Healthy levels and goals
| Non-HDL | mg/dL | mmol/L |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy adults (NHS) | Under 155 | Under 4.0 |
| Desirable for most adults (US) | Under 130 | Under 3.4 |
| 2026 goal: borderline or intermediate risk on a statin | Under 130 | Under 3.4 |
| 2026 goal: heart disease, or PREVENT risk 10% or more | Under 100 | Under 2.6 |
| 2026 goal: heart disease at very high risk | Under 85 | Under 2.2 |
Each 2026 non-HDL goal sits 30 mg/dL (about 0.8 mmol/L) above the matching LDL goal. In the UK, NICE aims for a fall of more than 40% in non-HDL for people on a statin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, and 2.6 mmol/L or less for people who already have heart or artery disease.
What raises and lowers it
- Raises it: anything that raises LDL (saturated and trans fat, weight gain, inherited high cholesterol) or triglycerides (added sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, poorly controlled diabetes).
- Lowers it: the same diet changes and medicines that lower LDL, plus cutting sugar and alcohol when triglycerides are high.
Deeper reading
Related terms
- ApoB
- HDL cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
- Lipoprotein(a)
- PREVENT risk calculator
- Triglycerides
- VLDL cholesterol
- All glossary terms
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate non-HDL cholesterol?
Subtract your HDL from your total cholesterol, in the same units. A total of 5.5 mmol/L with an HDL of 1.3 mmol/L gives a non-HDL of 4.2 mmol/L. A total of 210 mg/dL with an HDL of 50 mg/dL gives 160 mg/dL.
What is a healthy non-HDL cholesterol level?
The NHS says below 4 mmol/L (about 155 mg/dL) for healthy adults; US guides use under 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L). People with heart disease have lower goals: under 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L), or under 85 mg/dL (2.2 mmol/L) at very high risk, under the 2026 ACC/AHA guideline.
Is non-HDL cholesterol better than LDL?
The 2026 ACC/AHA guideline says non-HDL predicts heart risk better than LDL, especially when triglycerides are high, because it also counts the cholesterol in VLDL and remnant particles. Doctors usually look at both.
Sources
- Blumenthal RS, Morris PB, et al. 2026 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2026;87(19). Also in Circulation, doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423.
- NHS: Cholesterol levels
- HEART UK: Understanding your cholesterol test results
- NICE NG238: Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification
Track your numbers over time
Heart Tracker logs every cholesterol test in mg/dL or mmol/L and charts your total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides over time, next to what you were eating. Free on iPhone, no account needed.
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