SHBG: normal range and what it means
Short answer: The normal SHBG range is 16 – 56 nmol/L for men and 27 – 146 nmol/L for women. Labs differ a little, so also check the range printed on your report.
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Where does your SHBG sit?
The healthy range is different for women and men.
Your result
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Calculators that use your SHBG
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Information, not a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor about your result, and sooner if you feel unwell.
Binds sex hormones, controlling how much is free/active.
Normal range
This marker’s healthy range depends on sex and age.
| Normal range | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Low | < 16 nmol/L | < 27 nmol/L |
| Normal | 16 – 56 nmol/L | 27 – 146 nmol/L |
| High | ≥ 56 nmol/L | ≥ 146 nmol/L |
Free calculator
Free testosterone calculator (Vermeulen)
Free testosterone from total testosterone, SHBG and albumin (Vermeulen 1999)
Sources: Vermeulen A, Verdonck L, Kaufman JM. A critical evaluation of simple methods for the estimation of free testosterone in serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84(10):3666-3672.
ng/dL in the US, nmol/L in most other countries
In nmol/L
Leave empty to use a typical 4.3 g/dL (43 g/L)
Your result
Enter the numbers from your lab report to see your result.
Use total testosterone from a morning blood test (before 10 am), when it is highest. A calculated free testosterone is an estimate; it is close to the lab’s reference method in most people.
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A pointer, not a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor about your result, and sooner if you feel unwell.
What it measures
The protein that binds sex hormones and controls how much is free to act. It is the reason a normal total testosterone can still come with low-testosterone symptoms.
What moves it
Rises with thyroid hormone, oestrogen and age; falls with insulin resistance, obesity and androgens. It changes how much testosterone is actually available.
How to bring it into range
It rises with thyroid hormone and low body fat, and falls with insulin resistance. Interpret testosterone against it, never in isolation.
How fast it responds
Six to twelve weeks.
Also reported as: sex hormone binding globulin
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Common questions
- What is the normal SHBG range?
- The normal SHBG range is 16 – 56 nmol/L for men and 27 – 146 nmol/L for women. Labs differ a little, so also check the range printed on your report.
- What does a high SHBG mean?
- A value above the reference band means SHBG is outside the range typical for a healthy adult. A single reading is rarely conclusive on its own — what matters is the trend across draws and the other markers around it, which is why HealthOS reads the whole panel together rather than one number at a time.
- How do I improve my SHBG?
- It rises with thyroid hormone and low body fat, and falls with insulin resistance. Interpret testosterone against it, never in isolation.
Related markers
More in Hormones
Reference ranges are general-population guidance compiled from common clinical laboratories, not a diagnosis. Lab-to-lab ranges differ. Always read your results with your doctor.