Typical reference ranges
| Group | mg/dL | µmol/L |
|---|---|---|
| Adult men | 0.74–1.35 | 65–120 |
| Adult women | 0.59–1.04 | 52–92 |
| Children (varies with age) | 0.3–0.7 | 27–62 |
| Pregnancy | 0.4–0.8 | 35–70 |
Ranges based on: MedlinePlus; Mayo Clinic; KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. Full references are listed at the end of this page.
Use your own lab's range. Reference ranges differ between labs, analysers and methods, and with age, sex and pregnancy. The range printed on your report takes priority over the figures here.
Check your value
Type the Creatinine result from your report to see where it sits against the typical ranges on this page. Nothing is sent or saved.
General information only, not a diagnosis. Your lab's printed range takes priority.
eGFR Calculator
Kidney function (CKD-EPI 2021) from creatinine, age and sex.
Lab Unit Converter
Convert lab results between US units and SI units.
Causes of high creatinine
- Chronic kidney disease, most often from diabetes or high blood pressure
- Acute kidney injury from dehydration, severe infection, blocked urine flow or certain medicines
- High muscle mass, bodybuilding and creatine supplements
- A large cooked-meat meal in the hours before the test
- Some medicines such as trimethoprim and cimetidine, which raise creatinine without harming the kidney
Causes of low creatinine
Low muscle mass, older age, pregnancy and liver disease. Low creatinine is rarely a concern by itself.
Why eGFR matters more
The same creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL can be normal for a muscular young man and a sign of reduced function in a small older woman. eGFR adjusts for age and sex. Enter your creatinine in the eGFR calculator to see your estimated kidney function and CKD stage.
Before the test
Avoid heavy exercise and large meat meals for 24 hours if your doctor wants an accurate baseline. Fasting is not usually needed.
Frequently asked questions
What creatinine level is dangerous?
There is no single number; a sudden rise matters more. Values above about 2 mg/dL in adults usually mean significantly reduced function.
How do I convert creatinine to µmol/L?
Multiply mg/dL by 88.4. 1.0 mg/dL is 88 µmol/L.
Can drinking water lower creatinine?
Rehydrating corrects a rise caused by dehydration, but it doesn't change true kidney function.
Does protein powder raise creatinine?
Creatine supplements and very high protein intake can raise it slightly.
Sources and references
- MedlinePlus: Creatinine Test
- Mayo Clinic: Creatinine test
- KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD