Total Iron: normal range and what it means
Short answer: The normal total iron range is 65 – 175 µg/dL for men and 50 – 170 µg/dL for women. In SI units that is about 12 – 31 µmol/L for men and 8.9 – 30 µmol/L for women. Labs differ a little, so also check the range printed on your report.
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Where does your total iron sit?
The healthy range is different for women and men.
Your result
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Calculators that use your total iron
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Information, not a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor about your result, and sooner if you feel unwell.
Iron circulating in blood — read with ferritin and transferrin.
Normal range
This marker’s healthy range depends on sex and age.
| Normal range | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Low | < 65 µg/dL | < 50 µg/dL |
| Normal | 65 – 175 µg/dL | 50 – 170 µg/dL |
| High | ≥ 175 µg/dL | ≥ 170 µg/dL |
Free calculator
Transferrin saturation calculator
Transferrin saturation (%) = serum iron ÷ TIBC × 100
Sources: Gattermann N, Muckenthaler MU, Kulozik AE, Metzgeroth G, Hastka J. The evaluation of iron deficiency and iron overload. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2021;118(49):847-856.
Sometimes printed as "Iron" or "Fe"
If your report prints UIBC instead, TIBC = iron + UIBC
Your result
Enter the numbers from your lab report to see your result.
Iron swings through the day and after meals or supplements, so a morning sample after an overnight fast, with no iron tablets for 24 hours, gives the most reliable result.
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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 iron actually circulating in your blood right now, bound to transferrin. It swings a lot through the day, so ferritin is the better measure of what you have stored.
What moves it
Swings widely through the day and with the last meal or supplement, so a single reading means little on its own. Read alongside ferritin and transferrin saturation.
How to bring it into range
Read it with ferritin and transferrin saturation before acting. Iron supplements without a clear deficiency are not harmless.
How fast it responds
Hours, which is why timing and fasting matter for this one.
Also reported as: serum iron · iron
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Common questions
- What is the normal total iron range?
- The normal total iron range is 65 – 175 µg/dL for men and 50 – 170 µg/dL for women. In SI units that is about 12 – 31 µmol/L for men and 8.9 – 30 µmol/L for women. Labs differ a little, so also check the range printed on your report.
- What does a high Total Iron mean?
- A value above the reference band means Total Iron 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 Total Iron?
- Read it with ferritin and transferrin saturation before acting. Iron supplements without a clear deficiency are not harmless.
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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.