You can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks by controlling cholesterol. Use this chart to find out the healthy and unhealthy cholesterol levels by age.
This Chart Shows Healthy Cholesterol Levels by Age
Updated on Sep. 18, 2024
Most adults should have their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the agency says that many people have never had their cholesterol checked—which is concerning because high cholesterol can predict your risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, explains Gordon Huggins, MD, cardiologist and Director of the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center.
Yet “High cholesterol usually doesn’t cause any physical symptoms or discomfort until a major problem occurs, like a heart attack or stroke,” says cardiologist Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, who is a former president of the American Heart Association. So the only way to truly know where your heart health stands is by getting your levels screened.
Plus, if you know you have high cholesterol, consistent evidence shows that reducing it through lifestyle changes (or, in some cases, medication) is associated with a major reduction in your risk of heart problems, per 2022 research published in High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention.
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What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol itself isn’t inherently bad. It’s a compound that goes into cell membranes to help them work efficiently and serves other roles in the body such as hormone production, Dr. Huggins explains. Our liver makes most of the cholesterol we need for these daily functions, and “That cholesterol is then distributed around the body in lipid particles called lipoproteins, which are able to float around in the bloodstream.” There are two main types of these cholesterol-carrying compounds: High-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
The body tightly regulates the amount of cholesterol in our blood—but several factors can influence this balance.
For instance, while we consume cholesterol in our diet as well, the American Heart Association (AHA) says that saturated fats, trans fats, and sugar are what impact our blood cholesterol level—not necessarily the cholesterol naturally present in foods. (However, the AHA states that people with heart disease or diabetes should limit their dietary cholesterol consumption.) Other factors raise your risk of high cholesterol as well, such as a lack of physical activity, smoking, and certain medical conditions.
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How does cholesterol cause health problems?
“LDL cholesterol has garnered the nickname ‘bad’ cholesterol throughout the years,” Dr. Huggins says. “We focus on LDL cholesterol because epidemiological studies, population studies, and clinical trial data have all demonstrated that the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other forms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is often proportional to how high the LDL cholesterol level is.”
Here’s why: Excess LDL cholesterol is able to stick to the inner walls of blood vessels—and over time, these fatty deposits, called plaques, can narrow blood vessels and make them less flexible, a condition called atherosclerosis.
The condition is behind issues like coronary heart disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease. But these chunks of plaque can also loosen and get stuck—or even block—blood vessels, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Can children have high cholesterol?
Unfortunately, anyone can have high or unhealthy cholesterol levels—even young kids. In fact, in the United States, an estimated 50% of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 have cholesterol levels that are not ideal, while 25% are in the high range clinically, according to a 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“Genetic factors and obesity may cause unhealthy cholesterol levels in children,” says Jerome L. Fleg, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAPS, medical officer in the division of cardiovascular sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
A rare genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia is the most common inherited cardiovascular condition. It leads to very high cholesterol levels beginning at a young age, and typically needs to be controlled with medication.
When should I get my cholesterol levels checked?
Because high cholesterol has no physical symptoms—and atherosclerosis can take many years to develop into a problem—experts recommend people have their cholesterol levels checked throughout all stages of life.
Cholesterol testing in children
The AHA recommends that all children first have their cholesterol tested between the ages of 9 and 11. But kids with a strong family history or very high risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease should also have their cholesterol levels checked as early as two years of age, says Dr. Fleg.
After that, children are generally tested again between ages 17 and 21, according to the CDC.
Cholesterol testing in adults
Most adults need to have their cholesterol checked every five years, says Dr. Fleg. But screening schedules should be determined by an individual and their doctor, Dr. Huggins adds.
For instance, he says that certain people may need more frequent cholesterol tests though, such as anyone who has:
- A condition that raises the risk of unhealthy cholesterol levels.
- Cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
- Known elevated LDL or triglyceride levels and are trying to lower these levels through diet and exercise.
- A family history of high cholesterol.
- A family history of premature heart disease, including a male relative with a heart attack under age 50 and/or a female relative with a heart attack before age 55.
But even if you’re otherwise healthy, it’s important not to skip the standard cholesterol screening recommendation. “[We now understand that] these atherosclerotic plaques can be present in the blood vessels of people in their 20s and 30s, long before they have any risk of actually having an overt heart attack or stroke, or other forms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Huggins says. And if you can catch and lower these high levels when you’re young, you can reduce your risk of developing heart problems down the line.
What are healthy cholesterol levels?
A cholesterol test typically measures more than just your total cholesterol level, Dr. Huggins explains. It’s referred to as a “lipid panel,” which includes four tests: Your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels—each measured in milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dl) of blood.
It’s important to note that cholesterol or triglyceride levels alone don’t predict someone’s risk of heart problems. “We prefer to take a more holistic approach to the risk of cardiovascular disease by using the PREVENT risk calculator (a tool developed by the AHA) that factors in additional variables, including tobacco use and hypertension,” Dr. Huggins says. This calculator is only validated for people over age 30, however, so lipid panels remain an important diagnostic tool for younger people.
Total cholesterol
Healthy range (adult): Less than 200 mg/dl
Healthy range (child): Less than 170 mg/dl
Total blood (serum) cholesterol measures the concentration of all types of cholesterol in the blood. It is calculated by adding your LDL and HDL levels plus 20% of your triglyceride level.
According to the AHA, having “normal” total cholesterol levels is not as important as your overall risk of developing cardiovascular disease or heart events. However, “if it’s over 240, we recognize that’s a more elevated level that should require follow-up and potentially treatment,” Dr. Huggins says.
LDL cholesterol
Healthy range (adult): Less than 100 mg/dl
Healthy range (child): Less than 110 mg/dl
“The LDL level is actually probably the most actionable piece of information that comes from a lipid panel,” Dr. Huggins says. And there’s no lower limit. “We have come to appreciate that the lower the LDL, the better,” he says.
Ideally, the AHA says to aim for an LDL below 100 mg/dl. But Dr. Huggins says that up to 130 mg/dl isn’t usually much cause for concern. However, “If somebody has a heart attack, stroke, or ASCVD event, we recommend an LDL level of less than 70,” he says. “[But] European guidelines are even stricter, recommending an LDL level below 55.”
If your LDL cholesterol is between 130 to 160 or 160 to to 190, there’s an increasing level of concern, Dr. Huggins explains. LDL cholesterol levels above 190 sound an alarm, however. “That identifies somebody who has a very high risk of developing a heart attack or stroke at a very young age.” At this high cholesterol level, treatment like statins is generally recommended.
He explains that oftentimes, people with very high LDL cholesterol levels over 190 mg/dl are those with familial hypercholesterolemia, the genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. In these cases, medical therapy is advised regardless of someone’s age—even if they’re very young with few or no other risk factors—as “We do not really have any reasonable hope that dietary or lifestyle change will change their LDL cholesterol level.”
HDL cholesterol
Healthy range (adult): More than 40mg/dl for men; more than 50mg/dl for women
Healthy range (child): More than 45mg/dl
Often referred to as good cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins are molecules that are not fully saturated with hydrogen molecules— which means they can pick up freely circulating LDL cholesterol and carry it to the liver, which removes it from the body. Women often have naturally higher levels of HDL than men, but this can change after menopause when estrogen levels drop.
“We generally do not make treatment decisions or recommendations based on the HDL itself,” Dr. Huggins says. In the past, there was a general mindset that we should push the HDL up as high as possible, he explains. “With research over the last 10 to 20 years, though, it’s not really [been shown] that very high HDL levels are necessary.”
This is likely because HDL cholesterol has a limit to how much LDL cholesterol it can clear—only one-third to one-fourth of cholesterol is carried to the liver by HDL, according to the AHA.
“However, it is recognized that low HDL levels can identify somebody at risk of heart disease,” Dr. Huggins says. Higher HDL levels are better, but the relationship between LDL cholesterol and heart disease is much clearer.
Triglycerides
Healthy range (adult): Less than 149 mg/dl
Healthy range (child): Less than 90 mg/dl for ages 10-19; less than 75 mg/dl for ages 9 and under
The most common fats found in the body are called triglycerides. Some are produced by the body; the rest come from the foods we eat. These fat molecules store extra energy from food.
“The higher the triglyceride level, the greater the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease,” explains Dr. Huggins.
People with high triglyceride levels tend to have low HDL levels as well, a one-two punch to your heart health.
Non-HDL cholesterol
Healthy range (adult): Less than 130 mg/dl
Healthy range (child): Less than 45 mg/dl
Your lipid panel may go beyond the big four numbers (LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol) and also include non-HDL cholesterol. You calculate it by subtracting HDL from the total cholesterol level.
This measurement reflects all types of fat in your blood except for HDL. Some doctors prefer this reading to zero in on only the “bad” fats.
VLDL cholesterol
Healthy range: Less than 30 mg/dl
In some cases, a lipid panel may look at your levels of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Like LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol can contribute to the formation of plaque inside blood vessel walls and raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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| Healthy Cholesterol Levels By Age | ||
| Adults age 20 or older | People age 19 or younger | |
| Total Cholesterol | Less than 200 mg/dl | Less than 170 mg/dl |
| LDL | Less than 100 mg/dl | Less than 110 mg/dl |
| HDL | Men: 40 mg/dl or higher Women: 50 mg/dl or higher Ideal: 60 mg/dl or higher |
45 mg/dl or higher |
| Triglycerides | Less than 149 mg/dl | Age 9 or younger: less than 75 mg/dl Ages 10-19: less than 90 mg/dl |
| Non-HDL | Less than 130 mg/dl | Less than 45 mg/dl |
Cholesterol levels by age charts
Healthy cholesterol targets vary based on age, with different targets for adults, young children, and adolescents.
The numbers below are good, borderline, and high cholesterol levels for adults and children, according to Dr. Fleg, AHA guidelines, and the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine.
Total cholesterol levels by age chart
| Adults age 20 or older | People age 19 or younger | |
| Good | Less than 200 mg/dl | Less than 170 mg/dl |
| Borderline | 200 to 239 mg/dl | 170 to 199 mg/dl |
| High | 240 mg/dl or higher | 200 mg/dl or higher |
LDL cholesterol levels by age chart
| Adults age 20 or older | People age 19 or younger | |
| Good | Less than 100 mg/dl | Less than 110 mg/dl |
| Borderline | 130 to 159 mg/dl | 110 to 129 mg/dl |
| High | 160 mg/dl or higher | 130 mg/dl or higher |
HDL cholesterol levels by age chart
| Adults age 20 or older | People age 19 or younger | |
| Good | Men: 40 mg/dl or higher Women: 50 mg/dl or higher Ideal: 60 mg/dl or higher |
45 mg/dl or higher |
| Borderline | n/a | 40 to 45 mg/dl |
| Low | Less than 40 mg/dl | Less than 40 mg/dl |
Triglyceride levels by age chart
| Adults age 20 or older | People ages 10-19 | Children ages 9 and younger | |
| Good | Less than 149 mg/dl | Less than 90 mg/dl | Less than 75 mg/dl |
| Borderline | 150 to 199 mg/dl | 90 to 129 mg/dl | 75 to 129 mg/dl |
| High | 200 mg/dl or higher | 130 mg/dl or higher | 100 mg/dl or higher |
Non-HDL cholesterol levels by age chart
| Adults age 20 or older | People age 19 or younger | |
| Good | Less than 130 mg/dl | Less than 45 mg/dl |
| Borderline | n/a | 120 to 144 mg/dl |
| High | n/a | 145 mg/dl or higher |
When it comes to VLDL cholesterol in adults, a healthy level is less than 30 mg/dl.
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Does cholesterol level increase with age?
“Cholesterol levels certainly can rise gradually with age,” Dr. Huggins says. There’s a greater prevalence of certain risk factors for high cholesterol in older populations, such as obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. “Changes in cholesterol levels [as we age] often correlate with people being more sedentary and less active as well.”
Research from the National Institutes of Health also explains that everybody’s metabolism changes as you get older—and this affects how effectively your liver can remove LDL cholesterol.
How to improve unhealthy cholesterol levels
High cholesterol may be dangerous, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to lower your cholesterol levels. One major way to do that is by engaging in a heart-healthy lifestyle.
One of the best ways to improve your cholesterol is to follow a diet that limits foods high in saturated fat and eliminates trans fats. (Specifically, these are the worst foods for your cholesterol.) Other tips for changing unhealthy cholesterol levels include:
- Prioritize these 10 foods that may help lower cholesterol, including monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fats. These healthy fats are found in most non-tropical plant-based oils (like olive, canola, and sunflower), nuts and seeds, and fatty fish like salmon and trout.
- Exercise regularly (Dr. Huggins recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week).
- Quit smoking, as tobacco products are known to raise your LDL cholesterol.
- Cut back on alcohol.
- Eat fewer added sugars.
- Drink enough water.
- Avoid being sedentary for too long by taking short breaks while sitting.
About the Experts
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Sources
- Gordon Huggins, MD, Cardiologist and Director of the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center
- Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University and former president of the American Heart Association
- Jerome L. Fleg, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAPS, medical officer in the division of cardiovascular sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Testing for Cholesterol”
- High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention: “Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy in Patients at Low-to-Moderate Cardiovascular Risk”
- American Heart Association (AHA): “Dietary Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association”
- AHA: “PREVENT Risk Calculator”
- National Library of Medicine: “Introduction to Lipids and Lipoproteins”
- National Institutes of Health: “Blood Cholesterol: Causes and Risk Factors”
- Circulation: "2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines"
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know"
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: "Cholesterol Levels"
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: "Biochemistry, Low Density Lipoprotein"
