Millions of Americans get a cholesterol reading every year and have no framework for what those numbers mean at their specific age. The American Heart Association and federal health authorities set clear targets that shift with age, sex and cardiovascular risk. Here is what a healthy set of numbers looks like, from childhood into your senior years.
The reference values published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine look like this. All figures are in mg/dL.
Age group | Total cholesterol Also read: FDA: 25 weight-loss supplements sold as tejocote root contain a toxic plant that can stop your heart | LDL | HDL | Non-HDL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Under 19 Also read: How eating sweet potatoes every day may affect your blood sugar, gut and immunity | Under 170 | Under 110 | Above 45 | Under 120 Also read: What a daily handful of nuts may do for your heart, weight and lifespan |
Men 20 and older | Under 200 | Under 100 | 60 or higher ideal, under 40 is low Also read: Why 3 minutes of hard sprinting may matter more for your blood than a long jog | Under 130 |
Women 20 and older | Under 200 | Under 100 Also read: 8 early warning signs of endometriosis that take years to get diagnosed | 60 or higher ideal, under 50 is low | Under 130 |
Total cholesterol is a snapshot of every kind of cholesterol in your blood. On its own, it does not tell the whole story. Two people can share the same total number but face very different heart risks depending on which fraction dominates.
LDL, HDL and the fractions that matter most
LDL, sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol, is the fraction that drives plaque buildup in artery walls. Cleveland Clinic describes it as the type that "contributes to plaque buildup in your arteries" when it climbs too high. The general adult target is below 100 mg/dL.
HDL, the "good" cholesterol, does the opposite work. It carries cholesterol back to the liver for disposal. A level of 60 mg/dL or higher is considered protective, while under 40 for men or under 50 for women is flagged as low.
Non-HDL cholesterol is what remains once you subtract HDL from your total. A level under 130 mg/dL is the standard adult target. Triglycerides, a separate type of blood fat, should stay under 150 mg/dL. Levels of 150 to 199 mg/dL are borderline high, and 200 or more is high.
Why the targets tighten with heart risk
Children get their own numbers. Under age 19, total cholesterol should stay below 170 mg/dL, LDL below 110 and HDL above 45.
For adults with elevated cardiovascular risk, the goalposts move lower. In 2018, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association issued a joint dyslipidemia guideline that recommends bringing LDL below 70 mg/dL in people at intermediate to high risk, and below 55 mg/dL for those with established heart disease at very high risk.
When to have your cholesterol checked
The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults 20 and older get a lipid panel every four to six years, and more often when risk factors are present. Children should have a first screening between ages 9 and 11, followed by a repeat check between ages 17 and 21.
If any of your numbers fall outside these ranges, or if heart disease runs in your family, bring the results to your primary care provider. Family history, blood pressure, blood sugar and lifestyle all shape what your specific targets should be. Diet is one of the strongest early levers, and several everyday foods the American Heart Association highlights can help lower LDL over time.
This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.