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What Is Considered a Good Cholesterol Level?

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is critical in preventing heart disease and hardening of the arteries. A simple blood test will determine whether cholesterol levels are within a healthy range.

  1. Overall

    • The optimal total cholesterol level is below 200 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. The Mayo Clinic considers levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL borderline high, and anything above that indicates high cholesterol.

    HDL

    • High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, help carry cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body, so unlike other numbers in a cholesterol test, a high number is desirable. Men should keep their HL levels about 40 mg/dL and women above 50 mg/dL, though above 60 mg/dL is best for both.

    LDL

    • Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, clog the arteries and cause heart disease. It is optimal to keep LDL levels below 130 mg/dL. The Mayo Clinic considers levels above 160 mg/dL high and levels above 190 mg/dL very high.

    Triglycerides

    • Triglycerides, the chemical form of fat, should stay at levels below 150 mg/dL. The National Cholesterol Education Program considers levels between 150 to 199 mg/dL borderline high, between 200 and 499 mg/dL high and greater than 500 mg/dL very high.

    Risk Factors

    • People with high risk for heart disease should keep their LDL levels below 100 mg/dL or below 70 mg/dL if that risk is very high. These include people who smoke or have relatives who have had early heart disease as well as men older than 45 and women older than 55.

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