HOMA-IR Calculator
HOMA-IR estimates insulin resistance from a fasting glucose and a fasting insulin taken at the same draw. It is for adults without diabetes who are not taking insulin. There is no single official cut-off, so treat the ranges as a guide.
| Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 2 | Usual range |
| 2 to 2.7 | Above the usual range |
| 2.7 and above | Insulin resistance likely |
Source: Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, et al. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 1985;28(7):412-419. (doi:10.1007/BF00280883); Isokuortti E, Zhou Y, Peltonen M, et al. Use of HOMA-IR to diagnose non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a population-based and inter-laboratory study. Diabetologia 2017;60(10):1873-1882. (doi:10.1007/s00125-017-4340-1); Geloneze B, Vasques AC, Stabe CF, et al. HOMA1-IR and HOMA2-IR indexes in identifying insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome: Brazilian Metabolic Syndrome Study (BRAMS). Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol 2009;53(2):281-287. (doi:10.1590/s0004-27302009000200020)
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To see your average blood sugar from an A1c, use the A1c calculator. For central fat, see the waist-to-height ratio calculator.
The HOMA-IR formula
HOMA-IR = fasting insulin (µIU/mL) × fasting glucose (mmol/L) ÷ 22.5
If your glucose is in mg/dL, divide by 405 instead of 22.5. The two versions give the same answer.
Worked example
Fasting glucose 100 mg/dL and fasting insulin 10 µIU/mL: 10 × 100 ÷ 405 = 2.47, which is above the usual range.
What is a normal HOMA-IR?
There is no single official cut-off. Each study sets its own, and results depend on the population and on the lab’s insulin test. Across large studies of adults without diabetes, though, the numbers land in two clear places:
| HOMA-IR | What the studies show |
|---|---|
| Below 2.0 | The usual range in healthy, insulin-sensitive adults |
| 2.0 up to 2.7 | Above the healthy upper limit; matches the cut-offs for metabolic syndrome and fatty liver |
| 2.7 or above | Above the 90th percentile of healthy adults; insulin resistance likely |
Where those lines come from:
- About 2.0. In Finland, the top 5% of healthy adults started at 1.9 to 2.0, and 1.9 was the best cut-off for fatty liver. In Spain, the cut-off that best picked out metabolic syndrome was 1.85 to 2.05. In Hong Kong it was 2.0 for type 2 diabetes, and in Qatar 1.88.
- About 2.7. In Brazil, the 90th percentile of healthy adults was 2.7. A US analysis of national survey data used 2.73.
HOMA-IR chart
HOMA-IR for common fasting insulin and glucose values:
| Fasting insulin (µIU/mL) | Glucose 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) | Glucose 90 mg/dL (5.0 mmol/L) | Glucose 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) | Glucose 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.59 | 0.67 | 0.74 | 0.81 |
| 5 | 0.99 | 1.11 | 1.23 | 1.36 |
| 8 | 1.58 | 1.78 | 1.98 | 2.17 |
| 10 | 1.98 | 2.22 | 2.47 | 2.72 |
| 12 | 2.37 | 2.67 | 2.96 | 3.26 |
| 15 | 2.96 | 3.33 | 3.70 | 4.07 |
| 20 | 3.95 | 4.44 | 4.94 | 5.43 |
| 25 | 4.94 | 5.56 | 6.17 | 6.79 |
Insulin drives the result far more than glucose does. Someone with a normal fasting glucose can still have a high HOMA-IR if their insulin is high, which is exactly the early insulin resistance this test is meant to catch.
Limits worth knowing
- Insulin tests differ between labs. When the same blood samples were run in seven European labs, a HOMA-IR of 2.0 in one lab came out anywhere from 1.3 to 2.1 in the others. Compare results from the same lab over time rather than across labs.
- Both values must be fasting and from the same draw. A non-fasting insulin will inflate the result.
- It does not apply if you take insulin or have diabetes treated with drugs that raise insulin, because the injected or stimulated insulin is not your body’s natural fasting level.
- It is an estimate, not a diagnosis. HOMA-IR was built to compare groups in research. For one person it is a useful clue, best read alongside waist size, triglycerides, HDL, blood pressure and A1c.
FAQs
What is a good HOMA-IR score?
Below 2.0 is in the range seen in healthy, insulin-sensitive adults in most population studies. Lower is generally better, as long as your glucose is normal.
What HOMA-IR means insulin resistance?
There is no single official number. Most studies of adults without diabetes put the line between about 2.0 and 2.7, so a result of 2.7 or above makes insulin resistance likely, and 2.0 to 2.7 is a gray zone worth watching.
Is HOMA-IR accurate?
It tracks the gold-standard clamp test well across groups of people, but it is less precise for one person, mainly because insulin tests vary between labs. Repeat it with the same lab, and read it alongside your other metabolic results.
What units does fasting insulin need to be in?
µIU/mL, which is the same as mU/L. If your report uses pmol/L, ask your lab for the µIU/mL value, because labs use slightly different conversion factors.