HDL Cholesterol: Normal Range, High & Low Causes
What HDL cholesterol measures
HDL carries cholesterol away from your arteries back to the liver. Unlike LDL, higher HDL is generally better.
HDL cholesterol reference ranges
| Category | Conventional units | SI units |
|---|---|---|
| Low (men) | Below 40 mg/dL | Below 1.0 mmol/L |
| Low (women) | Below 50 mg/dL | Below 1.3 mmol/L |
| Acceptable | 40 – 59 mg/dL | 1.0 – 1.5 mmol/L |
| Protective | 60 mg/dL or higher | 1.6 mmol/L or higher |
Very high HDL is not always protective, and HDL on its own does not decide your heart risk.
Need to convert units? Use the mg/dL ↔ mmol/L converter.
Common causes of a high result
- Regular aerobic exercise
- Moderate alcohol intake
- Inherited variants
- Some medicines such as estrogen
Common causes of a low result
- Smoking
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
- Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance
- High triglycerides
- Some medicines, including certain beta-blockers and anabolic steroids
How to prepare for the test
Fasting is usually optional unless triglycerides or calculated LDL are being measured.
How often to retest
With the rest of your lipid panel, commonly every 4 to 6 years, or more often if advised.
Track HDL cholesterol over time
Upload your reports and Labgist plots every HDL cholesterol result on one timeline, converts units and shows what changed.
Get the appFrequently asked questions
What is a good HDL cholesterol level?
60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) or higher is considered protective. Below 40 in men or 50 in women is considered low.
How can I raise HDL?
Regular exercise, stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight and choosing unsaturated fats can help. Medicines to raise HDL have not been shown to reduce risk on their own.
Can HDL be too high?
Very high HDL is not automatically protective, and some inherited causes carry no benefit. Discuss unusually high values with your clinician.
Related tests
Sources
This page is general education and was last updated 2026-10-30. It is not a substitute for medical advice. See our editorial approach.