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    Medical Unit Converter

    🇨🇦 Canada version

    Health Canada requires blood glucose meters to show mmol/L only, and Canadian reports give A1C as a percentage, so this converter opens in mmol/L and per cent. It adds mg/dL and mmol/mol figures beside each result for reading reports from other countries. Ask your doctor what a result means for you.

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    Medical Unit Converter

    Convert 32 lab values between conventional (mg/dL) and SI (mmol/L) units, with typical adult reference intervals for context

    Reference ranges are not universal

    The intervals here are typical adult values. Real ranges vary by laboratory, assay, age, sex, pregnancy and ethnicity — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result. A value outside a range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a value inside one does not rule anything out.

    Enter your results

    Labs here report glucose and cholesterol in mmol/L and HbA1c in %, so that unit comes first. Health Canada requires blood glucose meters to show mmol/L only. Canada reports A1C as a percentage, with 7.0% or lower as the usual target. Sources: Health Canada: Units of measurement for blood glucose meters; Public Health Agency of Canada: Diabetes management; Statistics Canada: Cholesterol levels of Canadians.

    Glucose

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    70–99

    Fasting range. Post-meal targets differ.

    Lactate

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    4.5–19.8

    Beta-hydroxybutyrate

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–6

    Below about 0.6 mmol/L (6 mg/dL) is normal without fasting or a ketogenic diet.

    Total cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–200

    LDL cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–100

    Targets depend heavily on cardiovascular risk.

    HDL cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    ≥ 40

    Higher is generally better, so the low end is the concern.

    Triglycerides

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–150

    Creatinine

    Kidney

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0.6–1.3

    Urea nitrogen (BUN)

    Kidney

    mmol/L (urea) ↔ mg/dL
    7–20

    Uric acid

    Kidney

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    3.4–7

    Total bilirubin

    Liver

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0.2–1.2

    Albumin

    Liver

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    3.5–5

    Total protein

    Liver

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    6–8.3

    Ammonia

    Liver

    µmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    15–45

    Calcium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    8.5–10.2

    Magnesium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    1.7–2.2

    Phosphate

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    2.5–4.5

    Sodium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    135–145

    mEq/L and mmol/L are identical for monovalent ions.

    Potassium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    3.5–5

    Chloride

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    98–107

    Haemoglobin

    Haematology

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    12–17

    Reference ranges differ by sex.

    Serum iron

    Haematology

    µmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    60–170

    Ferritin

    Haematology

    µg/L ↔ ng/mL
    30–300

    ng/mL and µg/L are numerically identical.

    Vitamin B12

    Haematology

    pmol/L ↔ pg/mL
    200–900

    Folate

    Haematology

    nmol/L ↔ ng/mL
    3–20

    Vitamin D (25-OH)

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ ng/mL
    30–100

    Cortisol

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    5–23

    Morning value; cortisol follows a strong daily rhythm.

    Testosterone

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ ng/dL
    300–1000

    Adult male range.

    TSH

    Hormones & vitamins

    mIU/L ↔ µIU/mL
    0.4–4

    µIU/mL and mIU/L are identical.

    Free T4

    Hormones & vitamins

    pmol/L ↔ ng/dL
    0.8–1.8

    PSA

    Hormones & vitamins

    µg/L ↔ ng/mL
    0–4

    C-reactive protein

    Hormones & vitamins

    mg/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–0.5

    Why two sets of units exist

    Mass versus moles

    Conventional units express concentration as mass per volume (mg/dL). SI units express it as moles per volume (mmol/L), which is chemically more meaningful because reactions happen between numbers of molecules, not grams.

    The conversion factor is therefore specific to each substance — it is 10 divided by the molecular weight. This is why glucose and cholesterol, both reported in mg/dL, use completely different factors.

    Where conversion does not apply

    Some pairs are identical rather than converted: mEq/L equals mmol/L for monovalent ions like sodium and potassium, and ng/mL equals µg/L by definition. Others, like HbA1c, are related by fitted equations rather than chemistry.

    Enzyme activities (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase) are reported in units per litre and are not converted at all, which is why they are not listed here.

    Not a diagnosis
    A unit converter with reference context, not a clinical decision tool. Interpreting lab results requires the full picture — your history, your symptoms, and the range your own laboratory reports. Discuss results with the clinician who ordered them.

    Canada rules and figures

    • Health Canada requires blood glucose meters sold in Canada to show mmol/L only, so the page starts glucose entry in mmol/L.
    • Canada reports A1C as a percentage, with 7.0% or lower as the usual target, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
    • Because A1C is a percentage in Canada, the HbA1c tab starts in per cent and gives mmol/mol as the second figure.
    • Canadian height and weight start in feet, inches and pounds, and temperature in °C.

    Sources: Health Canada: Units of measurement for blood glucose meters (checked 2026-11-08); Public Health Agency of Canada: Diabetes management (checked 2026-11-08)

    How the medical unit converter works

    A single factor links each mmol/L style unit to its mg/dL style unit, and the Canadian page starts with SI entry. A1C has its own equations for mmol/mol and average glucose, and starts in per cent.

    mg/dL = mmol/L ÷ factor, so glucose 5.6 mmol/L ÷ 0.05551 = 101 mg/dL; A1C 6.8% → (6.8 − 2.15) × 10.929 = 51 mmol/mol

    • Lab values entry starts in mmol/L, matching the units on a Canadian meter and report, and the button flips to mg/dL.
    • The A1C tab starts in per cent and gives mmol/mol and average glucose beside it. A small list lets you type mmol/mol.
    • Cholesterol rows use 0.02586 and triglycerides 0.01129 between the two unit systems.
    • Range badges use one adult interval kept in mg/dL, so check the range printed on your own report first.
    • Height starts in feet and inches, weight in pounds and temperature in °C on the Canadian page.

    How to use the medical unit converter

    1. Find a test. Use the search box or choose a panel to narrow the list.
    2. Check the unit. The button starts at SI entry in mmol/L. Press it to type values in mg/dL.
    3. Enter a result. Type the figure and read the other unit and the badge on the same row.
    4. Convert an A1C. The HbA1c tab starts with a percentage. It shows mmol/mol and average glucose as well, and a small list switches the input to mmol/mol.
    5. Use body and vitals. Body metrics starts in feet and inches and pounds, while Vitals starts in degrees Celsius.
    6. Copy or export. Rows with a value are included in Copy and Export CSV. Reset clears the page.

    Example: Glucose, cholesterol and A1C in Canadian units

    A glucose of 5.6 mmol/L converts to 101 mg/dL and the badge reads Above range, since the stored limit is 99 mg/dL. A total cholesterol of 4.5 mmol/L is 174 mg/dL. Entering 6.8% on the HbA1c tab shows 51 mmol/mol, plus an estimated average glucose of 148 mg/dL (8.2 mmol/L). The badge and band labels are rough guides and not diagnoses.

    When to use the medical unit converter

    • Reading a US report. Switch to mg/dL entry and see the Canadian mmol/L equivalents.
    • Seeing A1C in three ways. Convert a percentage to mmol/mol and an estimated average glucose.
    • Checking a cholesterol panel. Convert total, LDL, HDL and triglycerides.
    • Getting ready for an appointment. Copy the converted values to discuss with your doctor.

    What the medical unit converter does not do

    • The ranges are one adult interval for every country and may differ from your lab's printed range.
    • The tool turns units into other units. It does not say what to do, and treatment questions belong with your doctor.
    • A1C in per cent and mmol/mol are tied together by the IFCC equation, an estimate that will not match every sample.
    • Nothing you type is stored on the page.

    When something else is a better fit

    • When you want your own interpretation of a result, use your clinician, who reads results against the lab's printed range and your history.
    • When you want a general unit converter for length, weight or volume, use the Unit Converter.
    • When you want body metrics with more measurements, use the BMI Calculator.

    Questions about the medical unit converter

    Why does my meter only show mmol/L?

    Health Canada requires blood glucose meters sold in Canada to show mmol/L only. The converter starts in that unit and gives mg/dL beside it.

    What A1C target is usual in Canada?

    The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 7.0% or lower as the usual target. Your own target may differ, so ask your doctor.

    How do I convert cholesterol to mg/dL?

    Divide by 0.02586. Total cholesterol of 4.5 mmol/L is 174 mg/dL.

    Why does 5.6 mmol/L show Above range?

    It converts to 101 mg/dL, over the stored limit of 99. The badge ignores your lab's own range and your health, so it is only a rough guide.

    Should I change my treatment based on this?

    No. Conversions help you read results. Treatment is for you and your doctor to discuss.