Normal uric acid levels on a blood test are 3.0 to 7.1 mg/dL for women and 4.0 to 8.6 mg/dL for men, according to MedlinePlus. Other medical sources draw the line lower, calling a level high when it passes 6 mg/dL in women or 7 mg/dL in men, so the same number can read differently depending on the chart. This guide lays out the ranges side by side, explains what high and low results can mean, and shows what you can change.
Uric acid is a waste product your body makes when it breaks down purines, which are found in your cells and in many foods. Most people with a high level have no symptoms, which is why a blood test is how it usually gets found. If your result is high and gout is the worry, the foods that lower uric acid naturally guide is a good next stop.
Jump to: Uric Acid Chart | Why Ranges Differ | High Uric Acid | Gout and Kidney Stones | Low Uric Acid | The Blood Test | How to Lower It | FAQ
Normal Uric Acid Levels Chart
These are adult blood values. MedlinePlus notes that reference ranges vary slightly between laboratories, so the range printed on your own lab report is the one to use.
| Source | Women (mg/dL) | Men (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| MedlinePlus normal range | 3.0 to 7.1 | 4.0 to 8.6 |
| Arthritis Foundation: high | Over 6 | Over 7 |
| StatPearls: hyperuricemia usually defined as | Greater than 6 | Greater than 7 |
The levels below show where common cutoffs fall, regardless of sex.
| Level (mg/dL) | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 | Low uric acid | Arthritis Foundation |
| Less than 6.8 | Typically normal | StatPearls |
| Less than 6 | Treatment goal for people with gout | MedlinePlus, StatPearls |
| 8 or more | Diagnostic of hyperuricemia | StatPearls |
Why the Ranges Do Not Match
The sources use different definitions: MedlinePlus gives a lab reference range, while the Arthritis Foundation and StatPearls give cutoffs for a high level. That is why a man at 7.5 mg/dL can be inside one range and above another. The StatPearls review of hyperuricemia adds that even levels in the normal range are linked to hypertension, at 5.3 mg/dL or higher in men and 4.3 mg/dL or higher in women. That does not mean those levels need treatment. It means a result near the top of normal is worth a look at your blood pressure too, and the normal blood pressure by age chart shows where yours should sit.
The sources reviewed here do not list separate ranges for children, so a pediatrician should interpret a young person’s result.
What High Uric Acid Can Mean
High uric acid is called hyperuricemia. Cleveland Clinic says it usually causes no symptoms, that about one in five people has it, and that symptoms appear when it leads to gout or kidney stones. Mayo Clinic adds that most people with a high level do not have gout. MedlinePlus lists these possible causes of a high result:
- Diet: alcohol, fructose, or a purine-rich diet.
- Body and fluids: obesity, dehydration, or excessive exercise.
- Conditions: kidney failure, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, and vitamin B12 deficiency, among others.
- Medicines: diuretics, niacin, low-dose aspirin (salicylates), and immune-suppressing drugs such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus.
StatPearls explains that impaired excretion by the kidneys is behind hyperuricemia in 90% of people, and that obesity and high uric acid are strongly linked. Cleveland Clinic lists being male, obesity, regular alcohol use, a high-purine diet, a family history of gout, and hypothyroidism as risk factors. Weight and waist size matter here, so check yours with the normal waist size chart for women and men and the normal BMI chart by age and sex. The same cluster of problems shows up in metabolic syndrome, which the metabolic syndrome diet grocery list covers.
Uric Acid, Gout, and Kidney Stones
Cleveland Clinic names gout and kidney stones as the two main complications. About 5% of people in the U.S. have gout, and males are four times more likely than females to develop it. Gout is confirmed by finding uric acid crystals in joint fluid during an attack, not by the blood level alone.
Uric acid stones make up roughly 8% to 10% of all kidney stones, per Cleveland Clinic. They form when uric acid in urine is too high or the urine is regularly too acidic. For stone prevention, Cleveland Clinic recommends 91 to 125 ounces of fluids a day, preferably water, aiming for about 2.5 liters of urine. The foods to avoid for kidney stones guide breaks the diet down by stone type.
Treatment depends on symptoms. StatPearls says people with no symptoms generally do not need treatment, and that, per the American College of Rheumatology, people with two or more gout attacks a year should be treated. The usual goal for people on urate-lowering medicine is a level below 6 mg/dL. Doctors may choose a lower target for severe disease, so ask what yours is.
What Low Uric Acid Can Mean
The Arthritis Foundation defines low uric acid as less than 2 mg/dL. It names rare inherited disorders, Fanconi syndrome, diabetes, anti-gout drugs such as allopurinol, pregnancy, and malnutrition as possible causes. MedlinePlus adds HIV infection, a low-purine diet, and medicines including atorvastatin, losartan, and probenecid. Low levels usually cause no symptoms and are often found when blood is drawn for another reason.
How the Uric Acid Blood Test Works
A blood sample is drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. MedlinePlus says not to eat or drink for 4 hours before the test unless your provider says otherwise. Many medicines affect the result, so your provider will tell you whether to pause any of them. Do not stop or change a medicine without checking first. Chemotherapy-related cell breakdown and weight loss can also raise levels quickly, per MedlinePlus.
If you have no symptoms, a provider may not need to act on a mildly high result. Cleveland Clinic says a provider sets how often to repeat the test. See your provider for new swelling, redness, or warmth in a joint, trouble urinating, or pain during or after urination.
How to Lower Uric Acid Through Food and Habits
StatPearls says dietary education should prioritize a low-purine, low-salt, and low-fructose diet, and that many people benefit from seeing a dietitian regularly. Cleveland Clinic advises limiting red and organ meats, alcohol, sugary drinks made with high fructose corn syrup, and fish, especially shellfish. The Arthritis Foundation adds that drinking alcohol, especially beer, is linked to higher levels and gout flares, and names cherry juice as the one sweetened fruit juice exception.
- Swap the biggest triggers first. The foods to avoid for gout flare-ups list shows what to replace and what to eat instead.
- Add foods that help. The foods that lower uric acid naturally guide lists options with serving sizes.
- Follow a full plan. The gout diet food list and the 7-day gout diet meal plan turn the advice into a grocery trip and a week of meals.
- Drink enough water. Dehydration is a listed cause of high results, and fluids are central to stone prevention.
- Work on weight and activity. Cleveland Clinic says healthy eating, exercise, and a healthy weight help.
Do not stop prescribed medicine on your own. Your doctor can tell you whether diet alone is enough or whether a urate-lowering medicine makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uric Acid Levels
What is a normal uric acid level for men?
MedlinePlus lists 4.0 to 8.6 mg/dL for men. The Arthritis Foundation and StatPearls treat levels above 7 mg/dL as high, so a result between 7 and 8.6 is normal on one chart and elevated on another.
What is a normal uric acid level for women?
MedlinePlus lists 3.0 to 7.1 mg/dL for women, and the Arthritis Foundation calls over 6 mg/dL high. Ask your lab which reference range it uses.
Is a uric acid level of 7 high?
It depends on sex and source. For women, 7 mg/dL is above the Arthritis Foundation cutoff of 6 but inside the MedlinePlus range of 3.0 to 7.1. For men, it sits right at the usual cutoff of 7 and well inside the MedlinePlus range up to 8.6. A single number matters less than your symptoms and trend.
Does high uric acid always cause gout?
No. Mayo Clinic says most people with a high uric acid level do not have gout or related symptoms, and Cleveland Clinic says hyperuricemia usually causes no symptoms. Gout is diagnosed from joint fluid during an attack.
Can diet lower uric acid?
Diet is one of the main levers. Cleveland Clinic and StatPearls both point to limiting red and organ meats, alcohol, and fructose-sweetened drinks, and to a low-purine diet. Some people also need medicine, so check with your doctor.
Do you need to fast for a uric acid test?
MedlinePlus says not to eat or drink for 4 hours before the test unless your provider says otherwise. Follow the instructions your lab gives you.
The Bottom Line
Normal uric acid is about 3.0 to 7.1 mg/dL in women and 4.0 to 8.6 mg/dL in men on a typical lab range, though several medical sources call levels above 6 in women and above 7 in men high. A high result usually causes no symptoms, but it raises the odds of gout and kidney stones, and people on treatment for gout aim for under 6 mg/dL. Check your own lab’s range, cut back on alcohol, fructose, and red or organ meats, drink plenty of water, and ask your doctor what goal fits you.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor to interpret your uric acid results and to set your own targets.
