LDL Cholesterol (Martin-Hopkins) Calculator

Estimate LDL cholesterol with the Martin-Hopkins adjustable factor equation.

Aug 31, 2026 Lipid Panel #cholesterol #ldl #lipid-panel #martin-hopkins

Calculate

All fields required unless noted

Total cholesterol (mg/dL)

HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)

Triglycerides (mg/dL)

Calculating...

Enter your values and press Calculate to see the result.

Reference Ranges Used

LDL Cholesterol - Adult 100 mg/dL

Formula & Clinical Notes

Formula

LDL = TC − HDL − (TG / adjustable factor)

Clinical Notes

The Martin-Hopkins method replaces the fixed 5:1 ratio of Friedewald with an adjustable factor selected from a validated table stratified by triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol, improving accuracy in patients with low LDL or high triglycerides. Optimal LDL is below 100 mg/dL. The method is not reliable when triglycerides exceed 800 mg/dL.

Sources

Martin et al. (2013) — Comparison of a novel method vs the Friedewald equation