This mmol/L to mg/dL calculator is designed for medical lab unit conversion. It can convert glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, ketones, calcium, magnesium, bilirubin, and more in both directions: mmol/L to mg/dL and mg/dL to mmol/L. For other concentration units, you can also use the nmol/L to ng/mL calculator or the g/L to mg/dL calculator.
The most important detail is that mmol/L and mg/dL are not interchangeable with one universal number. mmol/L is a molar concentration, while mg/dL is a mass concentration. The conversion changes depending on the molecule because each molecule has a different molecular weight.
Quick mmol/L to mg/dL Reference
These are the most common factors people look for. Use the calculator above when you need to switch between molecules or convert mg/dL back to mmol/L.
mmol/L to mg/dL Formula
To convert from mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply the mmol/L value by the conversion factor for that molecule. For many medical chemistry values, the factor is based on molecular weight.
mg/dL = mmol/L x conversion factor For glucose, the factor is about 18.02. So 5.6 mmol/L glucose is calculated as 5.6 x 18.02 = 101 mg/dL. For cholesterol, the factor is about 38.67, so 5.6 mmol/L cholesterol would be about 217 mg/dL instead.
mg/dL to mmol/L Formula
To convert in the other direction, divide the mg/dL value by the same molecule-specific factor. This is useful when a lab report, article, or calculator uses the opposite unit system.
mmol/L = mg/dL / conversion factor Glucose mmol/L to mg/dL Chart
Glucose is one of the most searched mmol/L to mg/dL conversions because blood sugar meters and lab reports use different units in different countries. This chart uses 1 mmol/L glucose = 18.02 mg/dL.
| Glucose mmol/L | Glucose mg/dL |
|---|---|
| 3 mmol/L | 54 mg/dL |
| 3.5 mmol/L | 63 mg/dL |
| 4 mmol/L | 72 mg/dL |
| 4.5 mmol/L | 81 mg/dL |
| 5 mmol/L | 90 mg/dL |
| 5.5 mmol/L | 99 mg/dL |
| 5.6 mmol/L | 101 mg/dL |
| 6 mmol/L | 108 mg/dL |
| 6.5 mmol/L | 117 mg/dL |
| 7 mmol/L | 126 mg/dL |
| 7.8 mmol/L | 141 mg/dL |
| 8 mmol/L | 144 mg/dL |
| 9 mmol/L | 162 mg/dL |
| 10 mmol/L | 180 mg/dL |
| 11.1 mmol/L | 200 mg/dL |
| 12 mmol/L | 216 mg/dL |
| 13 mmol/L | 234 mg/dL |
| 14 mmol/L | 252 mg/dL |
| 15 mmol/L | 270 mg/dL |
Conversion Factors by Molecule
Use the correct row for the molecule you are converting. Do not use a glucose conversion factor for cholesterol or triglycerides.
| Molecule | mmol/L to mg/dL | mg/dL to mmol/L | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | multiply by 18.02 | divide by 18.02 | Commonly used for blood sugar readings. |
| Cholesterol (TC, HDL, LDL) | multiply by 38.67 | divide by 38.67 | Used for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. |
| Triglycerides | multiply by 88.57 | divide by 88.57 | Triglycerides use a different factor from cholesterol. |
| Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) | multiply by 2.80 | divide by 2.80 | Use this for BUN; urea uses a different conversion factor. |
| Urea | multiply by 6.01 | divide by 6.01 | Use this for urea, not blood urea nitrogen (BUN). |
| Creatinine | multiply by 11.31 | divide by 11.31 | Often reported in mg/dL in the United States. |
| Uric acid | multiply by 16.81 | divide by 16.81 | Used for serum uric acid unit conversion. |
| Calcium | multiply by 4.01 | divide by 4.01 | Approximate conversion for total calcium. |
| Magnesium | multiply by 2.43 | divide by 2.43 | Commonly used for magnesium chemistry results. |
| Iron | multiply by 5.58 | divide by 5.58 | Used for iron values when reported in mmol/L. |
| Sodium | multiply by 2.30 | divide by 2.30 | Electrolytes are often reported in mmol/L or mEq/L. |
| Potassium | multiply by 3.91 | divide by 3.91 | Electrolytes are often reported in mmol/L or mEq/L. |
| Chloride | multiply by 3.55 | divide by 3.55 | Electrolytes are often reported in mmol/L or mEq/L. |
| Bicarbonate | multiply by 6.10 | divide by 6.10 | Use for bicarbonate values expressed as mmol/L. |
| Lactate | multiply by 9.01 | divide by 9.01 | Used for lactate concentration conversion. |
| 3-beta-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) | multiply by 10.41 | divide by 10.41 | One of the main ketone bodies measured in blood. |
| Acetoacetate | multiply by 10.11 | divide by 10.11 | Ketone body conversion based on molar mass. |
| Acetone | multiply by 5.81 | divide by 5.81 | Ketone-related molecule conversion based on molar mass. |
| Bilirubin | multiply by 58.47 | divide by 58.47 | Use for bilirubin values expressed in mmol/L. |
Why the Conversion Factor Changes
mmol/L counts the number of molecules in a liter. mg/dL measures the mass of those molecules in one deciliter. Because glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, and calcium do not have the same molecular weight, the same mmol/L value becomes a different mg/dL value for each molecule.
This is why a calculator that only says "multiply by 18" is usually a glucose calculator, not a complete mmol/L to mg/dL calculator. It may be fine for blood sugar, but it is not correct for lipids or other chemistry results.
mmol/L vs mg/dL
mmol/L means millimoles per liter. It is an SI-style concentration unit used on many lab reports outside the United States. mg/dL means milligrams per deciliter. It is a conventional mass concentration unit often used in the United States.
The numbers can look very different even when they describe the same result. For example, 5.6 mmol/L glucose and about 101 mg/dL glucose are the same unit-converted value. The unit is different, but the underlying glucose concentration is equivalent.
Important Safety Note
This page is only for unit conversion. It does not diagnose diabetes, kidney disease, lipid disorders, liver conditions, or any other medical condition. Lab results should be interpreted with your clinician, especially when values are high, low, changing quickly, or connected to symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you convert mmol/L to mg/dL?
Multiply the mmol/L value by the correct conversion factor for the molecule. For glucose, use about 18.02. For cholesterol, use about 38.67. For triglycerides, use about 88.57.
How do you convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide the mg/dL value by the conversion factor for that molecule. For glucose, 100 mg/dL divided by 18.02 is about 5.55 mmol/L.
Is mmol/L to mg/dL always multiply by 18?
No. Multiplying by about 18 is used for glucose. Cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, calcium, urea, electrolytes, ketones, and other molecules use different factors.
What is 5.6 mmol/L glucose in mg/dL?
5.6 mmol/L glucose is approximately 101 mg/dL. The calculation is 5.6 x 18.02.
Can I use this calculator for cholesterol?
Yes. Select cholesterol in the calculator before converting. Cholesterol uses a factor of about 38.67, not the glucose factor.
References for Conversion Factors
Conversion factors were checked against public lab unit conversion references, including UNITSLAB molecule conversion tables, the Society for Biomedical Diabetes Research glucose conversion table, and GlobalRPH conventional and SI unit tables.