---
title: HOMA-IR Insulin Resistance Calculator
type: tool
url: "https://www.test-well.com/tools/homa-ir-calculator"
date_published: 2026-09-26
free: true
---

# HOMA-IR Insulin Resistance Calculator

> Enter a fasting glucose and a fasting insulin from the same draw and the calculator returns HOMA-IR, the homeostasis-model estimate of insulin resistance: glucose (mg/dL) × insulin (µIU/mL) ÷ 405. A healthy insulin-sensitive adult scores about 1; published thresholds for insulin resistance fall between roughly 2 and 2.9, with 2.5 the figure most often used.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Inputs | Fasting glucose · fasting insulin |
| Units | mg/dL or mmol/L · µIU/mL or pmol/L |
| Insulin-sensitive | ≈ 1.0 |
| Cost | Free |

## For agents

See https://www.test-well.com/developers for the agent endpoints.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to be fasting?

Yes — 8 to 12 hours. The model assumes a steady fasting state; insulin after a meal is several times higher and the result is meaningless. Draw glucose and insulin from the same sample.

### Why is there no single normal HOMA-IR?

Insulin assays are not standardized across labs and the threshold depends on the population studied, so published cut points range from about 2 to 2.9 (some cohorts higher). That is why the calculator shows a zone rather than one line, and why trend over time on the same lab is more useful than one number.

### Can HOMA-IR be used if I have diabetes or take insulin?

Not reliably. The model assumes the pancreas is still compensating; once beta-cell output fails, or when injected insulin is present, the glucose–insulin relationship it relies on breaks down.

### Which is better, HOMA-IR or the TyG index?

They estimate the same thing from different inputs. HOMA-IR needs a fasting insulin, which is not on a standard panel; TyG uses triglycerides and glucose that most people already have. When both are available, agreement between them strengthens the picture.

## Related

- [glucose](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/glucose)
- [fasting insulin](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/fasting-insulin)
- [hemoglobin a1c](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/hemoglobin-a1c)
- [triglycerides](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/triglycerides)
- [hdl cholesterol](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/hdl-cholesterol)
- [pre diabetes panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/pre-diabetes-panel)
- [insulin fasting](https://www.test-well.com/tests/insulin-fasting)
- [glucose fasting](https://www.test-well.com/tests/glucose-fasting)
- [hemoglobin a1c](https://www.test-well.com/tests/hemoglobin-a1c)

---

Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tools/homa-ir-calculator
Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt

Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.