HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score
Estimate your insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic beta-cell function (HOMA-β) from a single fasting blood draw — just enter the glucose and insulin values.
mg/dL
µIU/mL
< 1.0 normal · 1.0–1.9 early resistance · 2.0–2.9 moderate · ≥ 2.9 severe
- 1
Glucose × insulin product
90 × 10 = 900 - 2
Divide by 405
900 ÷ 405 = 2.22The divisor 405 normalises to the reference fasting state of 4.5 mmol/L glucose × 90 µIU/L insulin.
How does this calculator work?
HOMA-IR = (fasting glucose mg/dL × fasting insulin µIU/mL) ÷ 405 estimates insulin resistance from a single fasting blood draw. Scores below 1.0 are normal; ≥ 2.0 suggests insulin resistance. The companion HOMA-β score estimates remaining beta-cell function. Both are screening tools — consult a clinician for diagnosis.
Formula
How this is calculated
HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) uses two fasting lab values to estimate how much the body's cells resist insulin signalling. When cells are resistant, the pancreas compensates by secreting more insulin to keep blood glucose normal — so a high fasting insulin alongside a normal-to-elevated glucose is the hallmark of early resistance. The formula HOMA-IR = (glucose mg/dL × insulin µIU/mL) ÷ 405 normalises this product to the expected fasting reference state of 4.5 mmol/L glucose × 90 µIU/L insulin; a perfectly sensitive person would score roughly 1.
A companion metric, HOMA-β, estimates how much of the pancreatic beta-cell secretory capacity remains: HOMA-β (%) = (360 × insulin) ÷ (glucose − 63). It is only meaningful when fasting glucose exceeds 63 mg/dL (the threshold below which the formula becomes undefined). Both metrics are widely used as first-pass screening tools before more invasive procedures such as the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp.
Commonly cited cut-offs for HOMA-IR are < 1.0 (insulin sensitive), 1.0–1.9 (early resistance), 2.0–2.9 (moderate), ≥ 3.0 (severe). Reference ranges vary between laboratories, ethnicities and age groups, so always interpret results alongside clinical context and with a qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
In lean, healthy adults most studies place normal HOMA-IR below 1.0. Values of 1.0–2.0 suggest early insulin resistance, ≥ 2.0 is generally considered insulin resistant, and ≥ 3.0 indicates significant resistance. Reference ranges differ across laboratories and populations.
Multiply mmol/L by 18.016 to get mg/dL. For example, 5.0 mmol/L × 18.016 ≈ 90 mg/dL. HOMA-IR is defined with glucose in mg/dL and insulin in µIU/mL; using mmol/L would require dividing by 22.5 instead of 405.
Yes — HOMA-IR and HOMA-β are only valid on fasting samples taken after at least 8 hours without food. Non-fasting insulin and glucose readings will give a meaningless result, as both values rise after eating.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/homa-ir-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/homa-ir-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/homa-ir-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_homa_ir_calculator, title = {HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/homa-ir-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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