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What is a normal ferritin level?

Updated October 31, 2026 · 12 sources · Written by the AumniVIDA team

Units

Short answer

A typical lab ferritin range runs from about 15 to 30 ng/mL at the low end to about 200 ng/mL in women and 300 ng/mL in men. Guidelines now treat 30 ng/mL or lower as iron deficiency in most adults (ASH 2026). ng/mL and µg/L are equal, so the number is the same.

Where ferritin cutoffs fall

TypicalCheck transferrin saturationHighDeficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)015WHO deficiency: 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)30ASH 2026 deficiency: 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)45AGA, with anemia: 45 ng/mL (= µg/L)70WHO, with inflammation: 70 ng/mL (= µg/L)100ASH, with inflammation: 100 ng/mL (= µg/L)150WHO overload screen, women: 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)200WHO overload screen, men: 200 ng/mL (= µg/L)400 ng/mL (= µg/L)
Deficiency in every guideline
0 to 15
Low stores
15 to 30
Low-normal
30 to 50
Typical
50 to 150
Check transferrin saturation
150 to 300
High
300 to 400
  • 15 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO deficiency
  • 30 ng/mL (= µg/L): ASH 2026 deficiency
  • 45 ng/mL (= µg/L): AGA, with anemia
  • 70 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO, with inflammation
  • 100 ng/mL (= µg/L): ASH, with inflammation
  • 150 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO overload screen, women
  • 200 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO overload screen, men
Guidelines disagree on where low ends: WHO uses 15 ng/mL, ASH 30 ng/mL and AGA 45 ng/mL, and the overload screen starts at 150 to 200 ng/mL.

Key takeaways

  1. 1

    Lab lower limits vary from 15 to 30 µg/L [1]; upper limits are typically 200 µg/L in women and 300 µg/L in men [2].

  2. 2

    ASH 2026 counts 30 ng/mL or lower as iron deficiency in most adults [3].

  3. 3

    Healthy men average higher ferritin than women: 69 versus 35 ng/mL in the first reference study [4].

  4. 4

    Ferritin units ng/mL and µg/L are identical, so no conversion is needed.

What is the normal ferritin range?

Most labs report a lower limit between 15 and 30 ng/mL and an upper limit of about 200 ng/mL for women and 300 ng/mL for men. A result inside the lab range can still be low by current guidelines.

Ferritin reference ranges depend on the lab and assay. The lower limit for most labs lies between 15 and 30 µg/L [1], and the upper cutoff is typically 200 µg/L in women and 300 µg/L in men [2].

A lab range describes where most tested people fall, which is not the same as the level that keeps red cell production healthy. Physiology studies place the onset of iron-deficient red cell production at about 25 µg/L in women [5] [6], and ASH 2026 uses 30 ng/mL or lower to define iron deficiency in most adults [3].

Ferritin ranges and cutoffs at a glance, in ng/mL (equal to µg/L)
GroupIron deficiencyTypical lab upper limitOverload screen (WHO)
Adult women, menstruating30 or lower (ASH 2026); below 15 (WHO)About 200Above 150
Adult men30 or lower (ASH 2026); below 15 (WHO)About 300Above 200
Postmenopausal women30 or lower (ASH 2026); below 15 (WHO)About 200Above 200
Pregnancy, first trimesterBelow 15 (WHO); about 25 by physiologyVariesNot set
Children 9 months to 4 years20 or lower (ASH 2026); below 12 (WHO, under 5)VariesNot set
Anyone with inflammationBelow 70 (WHO, adults); below 100 (ASH)Not adjustedAbove 500 if unwell

Where ferritin cutoffs fall

TypicalCheck transferrin saturationHighDeficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Deficiency in every guideline: 0 to 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low stores: 15 to 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Low-normal: 30 to 50 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Typical: 50 to 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)Check transferrin saturation: 150 to 300 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)High: 300 to 400 ng/mL (= µg/L)015WHO deficiency: 15 ng/mL (= µg/L)30ASH 2026 deficiency: 30 ng/mL (= µg/L)45AGA, with anemia: 45 ng/mL (= µg/L)70WHO, with inflammation: 70 ng/mL (= µg/L)100ASH, with inflammation: 100 ng/mL (= µg/L)150WHO overload screen, women: 150 ng/mL (= µg/L)200WHO overload screen, men: 200 ng/mL (= µg/L)400 ng/mL (= µg/L)
Deficiency in every guideline
0 to 15
Low stores
15 to 30
Low-normal
30 to 50
Typical
50 to 150
Check transferrin saturation
150 to 300
High
300 to 400
  • 15 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO deficiency
  • 30 ng/mL (= µg/L): ASH 2026 deficiency
  • 45 ng/mL (= µg/L): AGA, with anemia
  • 70 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO, with inflammation
  • 100 ng/mL (= µg/L): ASH, with inflammation
  • 150 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO overload screen, women
  • 200 ng/mL (= µg/L): WHO overload screen, men
Guidelines disagree on where low ends: WHO uses 15 ng/mL, ASH 30 ng/mL and AGA 45 ng/mL, and the overload screen starts at 150 to 200 ng/mL.

What are normal ferritin levels for women and men?

Women usually have lower ferritin than men because of menstrual and pregnancy iron losses. The deficiency threshold is the same, 30 ng/mL or lower for most adults, but the upper limit is lower for women.

The first serum ferritin reference study found a mean of 69 ng/mL in healthy men and 35 ng/mL in healthy women [4]. Menstrual blood loss and pregnancy are the main reasons for lower stores in premenopausal women [7].

For deficiency, ASH 2026 applies 30 ng/mL or lower to adults generally, including menstruating and pregnant people, and up to 50 ng/mL in some higher-risk groups such as heavy menstrual bleeding [3]. For overload screening, WHO uses above 150 µg/L in menstruating women and above 200 µg/L in men and non-menstruating women [8].

After menopause, ferritin tends to rise toward male levels, and the same overload screen as men applies [8]. Among blood donors, the physiological threshold rose from 25.4 µg/L in women aged 18 to 49 to 30.7 µg/L in women aged 50 to 75, close to 32.5 µg/L in men [9].

What is a normal ferritin in pregnancy and in children?

WHO uses below 15 ng/mL in the first trimester and below 12 ng/mL in children under 5. Physiology studies suggest higher cutoffs: about 25 ng/mL early in pregnancy and about 20 ng/mL in young children.

Pregnancy lowers ferritin as blood volume and iron needs grow. WHO sets below 15 µg/L for the first trimester and no cutoff for later trimesters [8]. US physiology data put the threshold at about 25.8 µg/L in the first trimester, 18.3 µg/L in the second and 19.0 µg/L in the third, and using them identified about one more pregnant woman in ten as iron deficient [10].

For children, WHO uses below 12 µg/L under age 5 and below 15 µg/L from age 5 [8]. Physiology studies point to about 20 µg/L in young children [5], and ASH 2026 sets 20 ng/mL or lower for ages 9 months to 4 years without inflammation [3].

What units is ferritin measured in?

Ferritin is reported in ng/mL in the US and µg/L in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. The units are identical, so 30 ng/mL equals 30 µg/L and no conversion is needed.

A nanogram per millilitre and a microgram per litre are the same concentration: there are 1,000 nanograms in a microgram and 1,000 millilitres in a litre, so the factors cancel. Some labs label results as mcg/L or ug/L, which are the same unit written differently.

Searches for a "ferritin conversion calculator" usually come from comparing a US guideline with a UK or Canadian lab report. No calculation is needed: WHO's 15 µg/L [8] is the same as 15 ng/mL, and the AGA's 45 ng/mL [11] is the same as 45 µg/L. Converting to nmol/L or pmol/L is rare in clinical practice; check your lab's report if it uses those.

Why did ferritin guidelines change?

The 15 ng/mL cutoff was set by expert opinion and misses many people with iron deficiency. Studies tracking when red cell production starts to suffer led ASH to adopt 30 ng/mL in 2026.

A 30 µg/L cutoff found 92% of iron-deficient anemic patients with 98% specificity, against 25% sensitivity for 12 µg/L [12]. BSG notes that 45 µg/L offers a good trade-off between sensitivity and specificity [1], and the AGA adopted 45 ng/mL for people with anemia [11].

Physiology studies then showed red cell markers begin to change at about 25 µg/L in women in the US and in 12 other countries [5] [6]. Using that threshold roughly doubled the estimated share of women with iron deficiency, from 20.1% to 36.0% [6]. The 2026 ASH guideline adopted 30 ng/mL for most adults [3]. Lab reports may take time to catch up.

Fifty years of ferritin

  1. 1972

    First serum ferritin assays link blood ferritin to iron stores

  2. 1974

    Ferritin validated as an index of body iron stores

  3. 1992

    Systematic overview ranks ferritin the strongest test for iron deficiency

  4. 1996

    HFE gene for hereditary haemochromatosis identified

  5. 2004

    Hepcidin shown to switch off the iron exporter ferroportin

  6. 2017

    Alternate-day iron absorbs better than daily doses

  7. 2020

    WHO ferritin guideline; AGA adopts 45 ng/mL with anemia

  8. 2021

    Physiology points to about 25 ng/mL for women

  9. 2023

    Consensus definition of metabolic hyperferritinaemia

  10. 2026

    ASH sets 30 ng/mL for most adults

Ferritin went from a research assay in 1972 to the main iron test, and its deficiency cutoff has risen as physiology studies replaced expert opinion.

More about Ferritin

Protocols that act on Ferritin

Common questions

What is a good ferritin level for women?

Above 30 ng/mL is outside the ASH 2026 deficiency range for most adults [3]. There is no proven optimal level above that for energy or hair; a clinician can put your result in context.

What is a normal ferritin for men?

Roughly 30 to 300 ng/mL by current guidance and typical lab upper limits [3] [2]. WHO suggests looking for overload risk above 200 ng/mL in healthy men [8].

Does ferritin change with age?

Yes. Ferritin tends to be lower in menstruating women and rises after menopause, and physiological deficiency thresholds were higher in older women and men in blood donor data [9].

How do I convert ferritin ug/L to ng/mL?

No conversion is needed. 1 µg/L equals 1 ng/mL, so the number stays the same.

Sources

  1. 1.Snook J, Bhala N, Beales ILP, et al. British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia in adults. Gut, 2021. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325210
  2. 2.Sandnes M, Ulvik RJ, Vorland M, et al. Hyperferritinemia-A Clinical Overview. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021. doi:10.3390/jcm10092008
  3. 3.Powers JM, Lim MY, Achebe MO, et al. American Society of Hematology 2026 guidelines for diagnosis of iron deficiency. Blood Advances, 2026. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2025015950
  4. 4.Jacobs A, Miller F, Worwood M, et al. Ferritin in the serum of normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency and iron overload. British Medical Journal, 1972. doi:10.1136/bmj.4.5834.206
  5. 5.Mei Z, Addo OY, Jefferds ME, et al. Physiologically based serum ferritin thresholds for iron deficiency in children and non-pregnant women: a US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) serial cross-sectional study. The Lancet Haematology, 2021. doi:10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00168-X
  6. 6.Addo OY, Mei Z, Jefferds MED, et al. Physiologically based serum ferritin thresholds for iron deficiency among women and children from Africa, Asia, Europe, and central America: a multinational comparative study. The Lancet Global Health, 2025. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00009-9
  7. 7.Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E. The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1104
  8. 8.World Health Organization. WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. World Health Organization, 2020. Link
  9. 9.Addo OY, Brittenham GM, Mei Z, et al. Physiologically based serum hepcidin and ferritin thresholds identify similar onsets of iron-deficient erythropoiesis in adult blood donors. British Journal of Haematology, 2026. doi:10.1111/bjh.70662
  10. 10.Mei Z, Addo OY, Jefferds MED, et al. Physiologically based trimester-specific serum ferritin thresholds for iron deficiency in US pregnant women. Blood Advances, 2024. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013460
  11. 11.Ko CW, Siddique SM, Patel A, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Gastrointestinal Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia. Gastroenterology, 2020. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.046
  12. 12.Mast AE, Blinder MA, Gronowski AM, et al. Clinical utility of the soluble transferrin receptor and comparison with serum ferritin in several populations. Clinical Chemistry, 1998. PubMed 9550557

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