How is HOMA-IR calculated?

HOMA-IR equals fasting glucose times fasting insulin divided by a constant: 405 when glucose is in mg/dL, or 22.5 when glucose is in mmol/L. Insulin is in micro-units per mL (µU/mL).

What is a normal HOMA-IR?

Values under about 1.0 suggest high insulin sensitivity; roughly 1.0–1.9 is typical; 2.0–2.9 suggests early insulin resistance; and 3.0 or above suggests significant insulin resistance. Cut-offs vary by population and lab, so interpret with a clinician.

HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance from Fasting Labs

Your fasting labs

Glucose units

Fasting glucose

mg/dL

Fasting insulin

µU/mL

Also written mIU/L — same number.

Your HOMA-IR

1.8

Typical range

HOMA-%B (beta-cell)—

InterpretationTypical insulin sensitivity

HOMA-IR is a population screening estimate, not a diagnosis. Cut-offs vary by ethnicity, lab assay, and reference group — a value near a boundary means little on its own. Trends over time and the full clinical picture matter more than a single number. Discuss results with a clinician.

How this works

Methodology reviewed July 2026

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) estimates insulin resistance from a single fasting blood draw. It multiplies your fasting glucose by your fasting insulin and divides by a constant that reflects the glucose units used. The higher the product, the more insulin your body needs to hold a given glucose level — the working definition of insulin resistance. We also report HOMA-%B, a companion estimate of beta-cell output, from the same two numbers.

Formula

HOMA-IR = (fasting glucose [mg/dL] × fasting insulin [µU/mL]) / 405
HOMA-IR = (fasting glucose [mmol/L] × fasting insulin [µU/mL]) / 22.5
HOMA-%B = (20 × fasting insulin) / (fasting glucose [mmol/L] − 3.5)

Inputs

Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin

Outputs

HOMA-IR value · HOMA-%B beta-cell estimate · Interpretation band

Assumptions

Both values are drawn fasting (typically 8+ hours); non-fasting samples invalidate the estimate.
Insulin is measured in µU/mL (equivalently mIU/L).
The person is not on insulin therapy, which makes the model inapplicable.

Limitations

It is a population screening estimate, not a diagnosis or a clamp study.
Cut-offs vary by ethnicity, insulin assay, and reference group — a value near a boundary means little.
A single reading is noisy; trends over time are far more informative.

Safety

Do not change medication or diet based on this number alone — discuss results with a clinician.

References

Matthews DR et al. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Diabetologia (1985)

This calculator is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results are estimates based on published formulas and population averages — your individual values may differ. Nothing here is calculated on a server: everything runs in your browser and no data is stored or sent anywhere. Always consult a qualified clinician before making health, medication, or training decisions.