Quick answer: children and teens should have total cholesterol under 170 mg/dL and LDL under 110, young adults 20 to 24 are borderline from 190 total and 120 LDL, and adults 20 and older should be under 200 total and under 100 LDL. Adult limits do not rise with age, but levels do: high total cholesterol (240 mg/dL or more) affects 6.0% of adults aged 20 to 39, 16.7% at 40 to 59 and 11.3% from 60 (CDC, 2021 to 2023).
Below each bar is acceptable; above it is high. Under 20 and 20 to 24: NHLBI 2011 expert panel, Tables 9-1 and 9-2. Adults: NCEP ATP III.
Cholesterol levels by age: the full chart
Children and teens (2 to 19)
| Lipid | Acceptable | Borderline-high | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Under 170 | 170 to 199 | 200 or more |
| LDL cholesterol | Under 110 | 110 to 129 | 130 or more |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | Under 120 | 120 to 144 | 145 or more |
| Triglycerides, age 0 to 9 | Under 75 | 75 to 99 | 100 or more |
| Triglycerides, age 10 to 19 | Under 90 | 90 to 129 | 130 or more |
| ApoB | Under 90 | 90 to 109 | 110 or more |
| HDL cholesterol | Over 45 | 40 to 45 | Low: under 40 |
All mg/dL. Source: NHLBI 2011 expert panel, Table 9-1. The borderline and high cut-offs sit at roughly the 75th and 95th percentiles for children.
Young adults (20 to 24)
| Lipid | Acceptable | Borderline-high | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Under 190 | 190 to 224 | 225 or more |
| LDL cholesterol | Under 120 | 120 to 159 | 160 or more |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | Under 150 | 150 to 189 | 190 or more |
| Triglycerides | Under 115 | 115 to 149 | 150 or more |
| HDL cholesterol | Over 45 | Borderline-low: 40 to 44 | Low: under 40 |
Source: NHLBI 2011, Table 9-2. These cut-offs are the 95th percentile for 20 to 24 year olds and are meant for pediatric and young-adult care; adult guidelines use the table below.
Adults (20 and older)
| Lipid | Healthy | Borderline | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Under 200 | 200 to 239 | 240 or more |
| LDL cholesterol | Under 100 (100 to 129 near optimal) | 130 to 159 | 160 to 189 high, 190+ very high |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | Under 130 | ||
| Triglycerides | Under 150 | 150 to 199 | 200 to 499 high, 500+ very high |
| HDL cholesterol, men | 60 or more is best | Low: under 40 | |
| HDL cholesterol, women | 60 or more is best | Low: under 50 |
Sources: MedlinePlus; NCEP ATP III. For adults the healthy limits do not rise with age: the same under-200 total applies at 30 and at 75. Divide mg/dL by 38.6 for mmol/L (triglycerides by 88.6). Each number has its own guide: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol.
How cholesterol changes with age in the US
CDC NCHS Data Brief 515, NHANES August 2021 to August 2023.
High total cholesterol peaks in middle age. In the CDC's latest national survey, 11.3% of adults had a total of 240 mg/dL or more, with no significant difference between men (10.6%) and women (11.9%). The age pattern held in the previous survey too (7.5%, 15.7% and 11.4% in 2015 to 2018). Low HDL (under 40 mg/dL) runs the other way: it affects 21.5% of men and 6.6% of women, and falls with age from 16.2% at 20 to 39 to 11.2% from 60.
The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline sets LDL goals by risk rather than age: under 100 mg/dL for people at borderline or intermediate risk, under 70 for high risk and under 55 for the highest risk. It uses the PREVENT risk calculator for adults aged 30 to 79 and recommends measuring Lp(a) at least once in adulthood.
When to check cholesterol at each age
| Age | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|
| From 2, with a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack or stroke | Starting as early as age 2 | MedlinePlus |
| 9 to 11 | Once for every child, then every 5 years | NHLBI 2011; MedlinePlus; 2026 ACC/AHA |
| 17 to 21 | Once more for everyone | NHLBI 2011 |
| 20 to 65 | Every 5 years; men 45 to 65 and women 55 to 65 every 1 to 2 years | MedlinePlus |
| Over 65 | Every year | MedlinePlus |
| Any adult | Lp(a) once | 2026 ACC/AHA |
Worked example: the same numbers at 16, 22 and 58
Take one lipid panel: total cholesterol 205 mg/dL, HDL 50, triglycerides 100 and LDL 135 (205 minus 50 minus 100/5). Non-HDL is 205 minus 50 = 155.
| Age | Total 205 | LDL 135 | Non-HDL 155 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | High (200+) | High (130+) | High (145+) | NHLBI: repeat a fasting panel and average the results |
| 22 | Borderline (190 to 224) | Borderline (120 to 159) | Borderline (150 to 189) | Lifestyle first; recheck |
| 58 | Borderline (200 to 239) | Borderline (130 to 159) | Above the under-130 target | Whether to treat depends on 10-year risk; LDL goal under 100 at borderline or intermediate risk |
At 58, adding ApoB and Lp(a) helps decide whether this is a borderline panel or a real risk, and that decision is one to make with your doctor. Our lipid panel guide explains each line of the report.
How to test cholesterol at home
| SiPhox panel | Cholesterol markers | Per test with shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity Essentials | Total, LDL (calculated), HDL, VLDL, triglycerides, ApoB, ApoA1, Lp(a), 5 ratios | $149 |
| Heart & Metabolic | Total, LDL, HDL, VLDL, triglycerides, ApoB, Lp(a), plus kidney and liver | $149 |
| Ultimate 360 | The full Longevity lipid set plus 30+ other markers | $274 |
| GLP Optimization | Total, LDL, HDL, VLDL, triglycerides, ApoB (no Lp(a)) | $224 |
Thyroid Focus measures HDL, LDL and triglycerides but not total cholesterol, and Hormone Focus has no lipids.
| If you are | Test | Choose |
|---|---|---|
| An adult getting a first full check | Lipid panel, ApoB and a one-time Lp(a) | Longevity Essentials ($124 + $25) |
| Borderline LDL and weighing a statin conversation | Lipids, ApoB, plus liver and kidney markers | Heart & Metabolic ($124 + $25) |
| Already on a statin and tracking it | LDL, ApoB, ALT | Heart & Metabolic ($124 + $25) |
| Checking a child at 9 to 11 or a teen at 17 to 21 | Standard lipid panel | Your pediatrician |
Other kits are compared in our at-home cholesterol test guide.
A note on home samples: SiPhox's partner lab tests capillary blood collected from the upper arm. SiPhox says its results show a 95% to 99% correlation with venous draws in its own quarterly comparisons against Labcorp and Quest, but it has not published a study of the EasyDraw device, and results come without an included doctor review. If a result would change a treatment decision, confirm it with a venous test through your doctor.
Longevity Essentials
The default panel: heart, metabolic, hormone and inflammation markers in one draw.
Check priceHeart & Metabolic
Lipids plus kidney and liver function: the panel for cardiovascular and metabolic risk.
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Ultimate 360
Everything on the four core panels plus iron studies, B12 and folate, GGT and PSA.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a normal cholesterol level for a 60-year-old?
The same as for any adult: total under 200 mg/dL, LDL under 100, non-HDL under 130, and HDL of at least 40 for men or 50 for women, with 60 or more best (MedlinePlus).
What is a normal cholesterol level for a teenager?
Total under 170 mg/dL, LDL under 110, non-HDL under 120 and HDL over 45. A total of 200 or more is high for anyone under 20 (NHLBI).
Does cholesterol go up with age?
On average, into middle age. High total cholesterol affects 6.0% of US adults aged 20 to 39, 16.7% at 40 to 59 and 11.3% from 60 (CDC, 2021 to 2023). The healthy target for adults stays the same.
Is 220 cholesterol high for a 25-year-old?
It is borderline. Adult guidelines put 200 to 239 mg/dL in the borderline-high range, and the NHLBI young-adult table (20 to 24) calls 190 to 224 borderline. Look at LDL, non-HDL and HDL before drawing conclusions.
At what age should cholesterol be checked first?
Between 9 and 11 for every child, again between 17 and 21, then every 5 years in adulthood, or from age 2 with a strong family history (NHLBI, MedlinePlus).
Sources
- Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents (NHLBI): summary report. Pediatrics 2011
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol levels, what you need to know
- NHLBI: ATP III guidelines at-a-glance quick desk reference (NCEP)
- American Heart Association newsroom: ACC/AHA issue updated guideline for managing lipids, cholesterol (March 2026)
- Blumenthal RS et al. 2026 ACC/AHA multisociety guideline on the management of dyslipidemia. J Am Coll Cardiol 2026
- CDC NCHS Data Brief 515: Total and HDL cholesterol in adults, United States, August 2021 to August 2023
- CDC NCHS Data Brief 363: Total and HDL cholesterol in adults, United States, 2015 to 2018
- SiPhox Health: panel comparison (checked 29 Sep 2026)
- SiPhox Health: Longevity Essentials panel
- SiPhox Health: Heart & Metabolic panel