What is the conversion factor between mg/dL and umol/L?

The exact factor is 88.42. To convert mg/dL to umol/L, multiply by 88.42. To convert umol/L to mg/dL, divide by 88.42.

What is a normal creatinine level?

For adult men, normal serum creatinine is typically 0.74–1.35 mg/dL (65–119 umol/L). For adult women, normal is 0.59–1.04 mg/dL (52–92 umol/L). Ranges can vary slightly between laboratories.

Why is creatinine higher in men than in women?

Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate in muscle tissue. Men generally have greater muscle mass than women, so they produce and excrete more creatinine, resulting in higher baseline serum levels.

Does a high creatinine always mean kidney disease?

Not necessarily. Temporary elevations can occur from dehydration, high protein intake, intense exercise, or certain medications. Persistent elevations or a rising trend over time warrant further evaluation with eGFR, BUN, and urine tests.

What is eGFR and how does it relate to creatinine?

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is calculated from serum creatinine, age, sex, and sometimes race. While creatinine alone indicates kidney function, eGFR provides a more standardized measure of how well the kidneys are filtering waste.

Creatinine Unit Converter

Convert serum creatinine between mg/dL and micromol/L instantly, with normal reference ranges and clinical context.

Creatinine Converter

Sex (for reference range)

Male Female

Creatinine (mg/dL)

mg/dL

Creatinine (umol/L)

umol/L

Normal Reference Ranges (Adults)

Sex	mg/dL	umol/L
Male	0.74 – 1.35	65 – 119
Female	0.59 – 1.04	52 – 92

Reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. Always interpret results in the context of the full clinical picture and your laboratory's specific reference intervals.

Clinical Significance

• Elevated creatinine may indicate acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), dehydration, high protein diet, or rhabdomyolysis.
• Low creatinine can reflect low muscle mass, malnutrition, advanced liver disease, or pregnancy.
• eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), derived from creatinine, is the standard clinical metric for staging kidney disease.

Summary

Serum creatinine is a key biomarker of kidney (renal) function measured routinely in blood panels. Laboratories in the United States report creatinine in mg/dL, while most other countries use micromol/L (umol/L). This converter lets you switch between both units instantly using the exact conversion factor (1 mg/dL = 88.42 umol/L) and displays whether the result falls within the normal reference range for men or women.

How it works

Enter a creatinine value in either mg/dL or umol/L.
Select your sex to get a personalized normal-range assessment.
The converter applies the standard factor: 1 mg/dL = 88.42 umol/L.
Both converted values update instantly as you type.
A color-coded badge tells you whether the value is low, normal, or high for your sex.
Use the Swap button to flip the direction of conversion.

Use cases

Interpreting a lab report from a foreign country that uses different units.
Comparing creatinine values across studies published in different unit systems.
Verifying kidney function status against published normal reference ranges.
Educating patients on what their creatinine result means.
Preparing clinical case presentations that require unit consistency.
Monitoring chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-30 · Reviewed by Nham Vu