Blood Test Normal Ranges Chart: Complete Reference Guide

How to Use This Reference Chart

This page provides normal reference ranges for the most commonly ordered blood tests. Use it to understand your lab report, but remember three critical principles:

1. Your lab’s ranges take priority. Reference ranges vary between laboratories based on testing methods and the population they’re calibrated on. Always use the ranges printed on your own report.

2. Being outside range doesn’t mean disease. Ranges are set so 95% of healthy people fall within them — meaning 5% of healthy individuals will show out-of-range values simply due to natural variation.

3. Context determines meaning. A single value outside range means little without your symptoms, history, medications, and other test results considered together.

Three Types of “Normal”

Understanding why there are different definitions of normal prevents unnecessary alarm:

Type	Definition	Use
Laboratory normal range	Statistical range covering 95% of healthy population; varies by lab and method	Flagging values for physician review
Population optimum range	Research-based ideal associated with best health outcomes; may differ from lab range	Preventive health goal-setting
Personal norm	Your individual baseline tracked over multiple tests	Detecting meaningful changes in your own health

Tracking your personal trend over time is often more informative than any single comparison to a population range.

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Complete Blood Count (CBC) Reference Ranges

The CBC is the most commonly ordered blood test panel, covering red cells, white cells, and platelets.

Red Blood Cell Values

Test	Men	Women	Units
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)	4.5–5.9	4.0–5.2	million/µL
Hemoglobin (Hgb)	13.5–17.5	12.0–15.5	g/dL
Hematocrit (Hct)	41–53%	36–46%	%
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)	80–100	80–100	fL
MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)	27–33	27–33	pg
MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)	32–36	32–36	g/dL
RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width)	11.5–14.5%	11.5–14.5%	%

What abnormal values suggest:

• Low hemoglobin/hematocrit → anemia (many types)
• High hemoglobin → polycythemia vera, dehydration, lung disease
• Low MCV → iron deficiency or thalassemia
• High MCV → B12/folate deficiency, alcohol use, hypothyroidism

White Blood Cell Values

Test	Normal Range	Units
Total WBC	4,500–11,000	cells/µL
Neutrophils	1,800–7,700 (40–70%)	cells/µL
Lymphocytes	1,000–4,800 (20–45%)	cells/µL
Monocytes	200–1,000 (2–10%)	cells/µL
Eosinophils	100–500 (1–6%)	cells/µL
Basophils	0–100 (0–1%)	cells/µL

What abnormal values suggest:

• High total WBC (leukocytosis) → infection, inflammation, stress, certain cancers
• Low total WBC (leukopenia) → viral infections, bone marrow suppression, autoimmune disease
• High neutrophils → bacterial infection, steroids, physical stress
• High lymphocytes → viral infections, certain leukemias
• High eosinophils → allergies, parasitic infections, asthma

Platelet Values

Test	Normal Range	Units
Platelet Count	150,000–400,000	per µL
MPV (Mean Platelet Volume)	7.5–12.5	fL

What abnormal values suggest:

• Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) → increased bleeding risk, ITP, bone marrow issues
• High platelets (thrombocytosis) → iron deficiency, infection, inflammatory conditions

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Glucose and Diabetes Markers

Test	Normal	Pre-Diabetes	Diabetes	Units
Fasting Glucose	70–99	100–125	≥126	mg/dL
Random Glucose	<140	140–199	≥200	mg/dL
HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin)	<5.7%	5.7–6.4%	≥6.5%	%
Fasting Insulin	2–25	—	—	µIU/mL

Note: HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over the preceding 2–3 months. It does not require fasting and is not affected by recent meals.

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Cholesterol and Lipid Panel Reference Ranges

Measurement	Optimal	Borderline High	High	Units
Total Cholesterol	<200	200–239	≥240	mg/dL
LDL (“Bad”) Cholesterol	<100	130–159	≥160	mg/dL
HDL (“Good”) Cholesterol	≥60 (men ≥40, women ≥50)	40–59	<40 (low, high risk)	mg/dL
Triglycerides	<150	150–199	≥200 (very high ≥500)	mg/dL
Total Cholesterol / HDL Ratio	≤3.5	3.5–4.5	>4.5	ratio
Non-HDL Cholesterol	<130	130–159	≥160	mg/dL

For detailed breakdowns by age and sex, see our dedicated cholesterol levels chart.

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Kidney Function Reference Ranges

Test	Normal Range	Units	Notes
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)	7–20	mg/dL	Higher with high protein intake or dehydration
Creatinine (men)	0.74–1.35	mg/dL	Muscle breakdown product
Creatinine (women)	0.59–1.04	mg/dL	Women have lower muscle mass = lower creatinine
eGFR (est. filtration rate)	≥60	mL/min/1.73m²	<60 for 3+ months = chronic kidney disease
BUN/Creatinine Ratio	10–20	ratio	Helps identify cause of kidney dysfunction
Uric Acid (men)	3.4–7.0	mg/dL	High levels → gout risk
Uric Acid (women)	2.4–6.0	mg/dL

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Liver Function Reference Ranges

Test	Normal Range	Units	What It Measures
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)	7–56	U/L	Liver cell damage (most specific)
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)	10–40	U/L	Liver + muscle damage
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)	44–147	U/L	Liver, bone, bile ducts
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)	9–48	U/L	Liver/bile; elevated with alcohol use
Total Bilirubin	0.1–1.2	mg/dL	Red cell breakdown waste product
Direct Bilirubin	0.0–0.3	mg/dL	Liver’s ability to process bilirubin
Albumin	3.5–5.0	g/dL	Protein made by liver; falls with liver disease
Total Protein	6.3–8.2	g/dL	Combined albumin + globulins

Elevated ALT and AST together strongly suggest liver cell injury — from alcohol, medications, hepatitis, or fatty liver disease.

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Electrolytes Reference Ranges

Electrolyte	Normal Range	Units
Sodium (Na)	136–145	mEq/L
Potassium (K)	3.5–5.1	mEq/L
Chloride (Cl)	98–107	mEq/L
Bicarbonate (CO2)	22–29	mEq/L
Calcium (total)	8.6–10.3	mg/dL
Magnesium	1.7–2.2	mg/dL
Phosphorus	2.5–4.5	mg/dL

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Thyroid Function Reference Ranges

Test	Normal Range	Units	Notes
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)	0.4–4.0	mIU/L	First-line thyroid test; elevated = hypothyroid
Free T4	0.8–1.8	ng/dL	Active thyroid hormone
Free T3	2.3–4.2	pg/mL	Most biologically active form
Total T4	4.5–12.0	µg/dL	Less specific; affected by binding proteins
Total T3	80–200	ng/dL

High TSH + low T4 = hypothyroidism. Low TSH + high T4 = hyperthyroidism.

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Iron and Anemia Markers

Test	Men	Women	Units
Serum Iron	65–175	50–170	µg/dL
TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)	250–370	250–370	µg/dL
Ferritin	24–336	11–307	ng/mL
Transferrin Saturation	20–50%	15–50%	%
Vitamin B12	200–900	200–900	pg/mL
Folate (serum)	2.7–17.0	2.7–17.0	ng/mL

Low ferritin is the earliest and most sensitive indicator of iron deficiency, often falling before hemoglobin drops.

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Coagulation (Clotting) Tests

Test	Normal Range	Units	Notes
PT (Prothrombin Time)	11–13.5	seconds	Tests extrinsic clotting pathway
INR	0.8–1.1	ratio	Standardized PT; target 2–3 on warfarin
aPTT	25–35	seconds	Tests intrinsic clotting pathway
Fibrinogen	200–400	mg/dL	Clot formation protein
D-Dimer	<0.50	µg/mL	Elevated = clot breakdown; not specific
Platelet Count	150,000–400,000	per µL	See CBC section above

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Inflammatory and Cardiac Markers

Test	Normal Range	Units	Notes
CRP (C-Reactive Protein)	<1.0 (low risk)	mg/L	General inflammation marker
hs-CRP (high sensitivity)	<1.0 low risk; 1–3 avg; >3 high	mg/L	Cardiac risk stratification
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)	Men: 0–15; Women: 0–20	mm/hr	Non-specific inflammation
Troponin I	<0.04	ng/mL	Heart muscle damage; key for heart attack
BNP (B-type Natriuretic Peptide)	<100	pg/mL	Heart failure marker
Homocysteine	5–15	µmol/L	Elevated = cardiovascular risk

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Protein and Nutritional Markers

Test	Normal Range	Units
Total Protein	6.3–8.2	g/dL
Albumin	3.5–5.0	g/dL
Globulin	2.0–3.5	g/dL
A/G Ratio (Albumin/Globulin)	1.0–2.5	ratio
Vitamin D (25-OH)	30–100	ng/mL
Calcium (total)	8.6–10.3	mg/dL
Phosphorus	2.5–4.5	mg/dL

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Hormone Reference Ranges (Adults)

Hormone	Men	Women (premenopausal)	Units
Testosterone (total)	300–1,000	15–70	ng/dL
Testosterone (free)	9–30	0.3–1.9	ng/dL
Estradiol	10–40	20–350 (varies by cycle)	pg/mL
Progesterone	0.3–1.2	1–25 (varies by cycle)	ng/mL
FSH	1.5–12.4	2.5–10.2 (follicular)	mIU/mL
LH	1.7–8.6	2.4–12.6 (follicular)	mIU/mL
Cortisol (morning)	6–23	6–23	µg/dL
DHEA-S	80–560	35–430	µg/dL

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Understanding False Positives and False Negatives

No blood test is perfect. Results can be misleading in two directions:

False positive — Test shows abnormal when you’re actually healthy. Causes include contamination, hemolysis (red cells breaking during collection), improper fasting, certain medications, or simply being in the 5% who fall outside the statistical range.

False negative — Test shows normal when a problem exists. Most common in early disease before markers become detectable, or when testing in a “window period” (as with early HIV infection).

This is why single results are rarely definitive. Retesting, combining multiple markers, and clinical context together produce reliable diagnoses.

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For step-by-step guidance on preparing for your blood test, visit our blood test preparation guide. For a deeper explanation of how to read and interpret results, see our understanding blood tests article.