VLDL Calculator — Friedewald Equation
Estimate VLDL cholesterol and calculate LDL using the Friedewald equation from your lipid panel — enter total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides in mg/dL or mmol/L.
Units
mg/dL
mg/dL
mg/dL
Estimated via Friedewald: VLDL = Triglycerides ÷ 5 (in mg/dL)
Cholesterol
breakdownHDL
27.5%
LDL
60.5%
VLDL
12%
- 1
Non-HDL cholesterol
200 − 55 = 145 - 2
VLDL = Triglycerides ÷ 5
120 ÷ 5 = 24Friedewald estimate — valid only when triglycerides < 400 mg/dL.
How does this calculator work?
VLDL cholesterol ≈ Triglycerides ÷ 5 (mg/dL). LDL = Total Cholesterol − HDL − VLDL (Friedewald equation, valid only when TG < 400 mg/dL). Normal VLDL is below 30 mg/dL. Enter your lipid panel values to get VLDL, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in one step.
Formula
How this is calculated
Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is a triglyceride-rich lipoprotein produced by the liver. It is not measured directly in a standard lipid panel; instead it is estimated using the Friedewald relationship: VLDL (mg/dL) ≈ Triglycerides (mg/dL) ÷ 5. This works because the cholesterol-to-triglyceride ratio in VLDL particles is approximately 1:5 in fasting samples. In mmol/L the equivalent division factor is approximately 2.175.
Once VLDL is estimated, the Friedewald equation gives LDL: LDL = Total Cholesterol − HDL − VLDL. This is the formula used by laboratories worldwide to report LDL from routine fasting lipid panels and was first published by Friedewald, Levy and Fredrickson in 1972. The equation is inaccurate when triglycerides exceed 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) because the 1:5 ratio no longer holds; at those levels laboratories use direct enzymatic LDL measurement instead.
Normal VLDL is typically below 30 mg/dL (0.77 mmol/L). Elevated VLDL often reflects hypertriglyceridaemia and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Non-HDL cholesterol (Total Cholesterol − HDL), also shown, includes VLDL and is a broader atherogenic marker recommended alongside LDL in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Normal VLDL is generally below 30 mg/dL (0.77 mmol/L). Levels above 30 mg/dL indicate elevated VLDL, which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, often alongside high triglycerides.
The formula assumes a fixed cholesterol-to-triglyceride ratio of 1:5 in VLDL, which breaks down when triglycerides are very high (≥ 400 mg/dL), leading to underestimation of LDL. In those cases, direct LDL measurement is required.
Reducing sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, limiting alcohol, losing excess weight, and increasing physical activity are the primary lifestyle interventions for high VLDL. Fibrate medications and omega-3 fatty acids are also used clinically for hypertriglyceridaemia.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). VLDL Calculator — Friedewald Equation [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vldl-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "VLDL Calculator — Friedewald Equation." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vldl-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "VLDL Calculator — Friedewald Equation," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vldl-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_vldl_calculator, title = {VLDL Calculator — Friedewald Equation}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vldl-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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