Convert mg/dL to mmol/L for any common blood test
This mg/dL to mmol/L converter turns blood test results from the units used in the United States and parts of Asia (milligrams per decilitre) into the SI units used in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia (millimoles or micromoles per litre), and back again. Pick the test, type the number in either box, and the other box fills in with the exact factor and the working shown.
It covers glucose, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL and non-HDL), triglycerides, creatinine, urea and BUN, uric acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and bilirubin. Each substance has its own factor because the conversion depends on its molar mass, which is why one number cannot convert everything.
It is useful when a glucose meter, a lab report, a research paper or a diet plan uses the other unit, or when you have moved between countries. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
How to convert mg/dL to mmol/L
- Choose the blood test from the list — the factor changes with the substance.
- Type the result in the mg/dL box to get mmol/L (or µmol/L), or type in the right-hand box to go the other way.
- Read the converted value, the formula and the working underneath.
- Use the quick conversion table for common values; tap a row to load it.
- Press Copy result to paste the conversion into a message or notes.
mg/dL to mmol/L Converter features
Eleven tests, one place
Glucose, four cholesterol measures, triglycerides, creatinine, BUN and urea, uric acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and bilirubin.
Both directions live
Type in either unit; the other updates instantly, with a swap button to move the number across.
Exact factors
Every factor comes from the molar mass of the substance and matches the standard SI conversion tables.
Working shown
See the formula and the arithmetic, handy for students and for checking a report by hand.
Quick tables
Ten common values per test, from hypoglycaemia levels to high cholesterol, ready to read off.
Conversion factors for common blood tests
To convert a mass concentration to a molar one, divide by the molar mass: 1 mg/dL is 10 mg per litre, and 10 ÷ 180.16 g/mol = 0.0555 mmol/L of glucose. Turned around, 1 mmol/L of glucose is 18.016 mg/dL — the familiar “divide by 18”. The factors below were derived from IUPAC atomic weights and agree with the SI conversion tables of Young (Annals of Internal Medicine 1987;106:114–129), which medical journals still use. Checked 24 October 2026.
| Test | mg/dL → SI | SI → mg/dL | Molar mass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | ÷ 18.016 → mmol/L | × 18.016 | 180.16 g/mol |
| Cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL) | ÷ 38.67 → mmol/L | × 38.67 | 386.65 g/mol |
| Triglycerides | ÷ 88.57 → mmol/L | × 88.57 | 885.7 g/mol (as triolein) |
| Creatinine | × 88.4 → µmol/L | ÷ 88.4 | 113.12 g/mol |
| Urea nitrogen (BUN) → urea | ÷ 2.801 → mmol/L | × 2.801 | 28.014 g/mol (2 N) |
| Uric acid | × 59.48 → µmol/L | ÷ 59.48 | 168.11 g/mol |
| Calcium | ÷ 4.008 → mmol/L | × 4.008 | 40.078 g/mol |
| Bilirubin | × 17.1 → µmol/L | ÷ 17.1 | 584.66 g/mol |
Worked examples and things that trip people up
- Blood sugar: 126 mg/dL ÷ 18.016 = 6.99 mmol/L, usually reported as 7.0. A fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL is 5.55 mmol/L, often rounded to 5.6. Some meters and books use 18 instead of 18.016; the difference is under 0.1%.
- Cholesterol and triglycerides use different factors. 200 mg/dL of cholesterol is 5.17 mmol/L, but 200 mg/dL of triglycerides is only 2.26 mmol/L. For LDL estimates from a full panel, use the LDL calculator.
- Creatinine, uric acid and bilirubin are reported in micromoles (µmol/L), a thousand times smaller than mmol/L: creatinine 1.0 mg/dL = 88.4 µmol/L. Kidney function from creatinine is in the eGFR calculator.
- BUN is not urea. US labs report blood urea nitrogen; UK labs report urea. 14 mg/dL BUN = 5.0 mmol/L urea. If you have urea in mg/dL (not BUN), choose “Urea (whole molecule)”, which uses 6.006.
- HbA1c is not a concentration in mg/dL: it is a percentage or mmol/mol and needs a different formula.
Limits
This page converts units; it does not interpret results. Normal ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, fasting and your own health, so compare with the range printed on your report and ask your doctor what a result means for you. To track readings over time in either unit, use the blood sugar log.
mg/dL to mmol/L Converter FAQ
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide by the factor for that substance: 18.016 for glucose, 38.67 for cholesterol, 88.57 for triglycerides, 4.008 for calcium. For creatinine, multiply by 88.4 to get µmol/L. The mg/dL to mmol/L converter above applies the right factor automatically.
How do I convert mmol/L to mg/dL for blood sugar?
Multiply by 18.016 (often rounded to 18). For example 5.5 mmol/L × 18.016 = 99 mg/dL, and 10 mmol/L = 180 mg/dL.
Why is the factor different for cholesterol and glucose?
A mole of cholesterol weighs about 387 g, more than twice a mole of glucose (180 g), so the same number of milligrams contains fewer molecules. Each substance therefore needs its own factor.
What is 200 mg/dL of cholesterol in mmol/L?
About 5.17 mmol/L (200 ÷ 38.67). The same factor applies to total, HDL, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol.
How do I convert creatinine from mg/dL to µmol/L?
Multiply by 88.4. A creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL is 106 µmol/L; to go back, divide µmol/L by 88.4.
Is this mg/dL to mmol/L calculator medical advice?
No. It is a unit conversion for information. Results are estimates of the same measurement in another unit and do not tell you whether a value is normal for you.