HOMA-IR Calculator

Estimate insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), beta-cell function (HOMA-%B), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-%S) and QUICKI from a fasting glucose and fasting insulin measurement.

Enter fasting values

Tap either unit badge to switch both fields between conventional (mg/dL, µIU/mL) and SI (mmol/L, pmol/L) units.

Fasting Plasma Glucose

Fasting Insulin

Sample should follow an 8–12 hour overnight fast. µIU/mL and mU/L are numerically equivalent.

HOMA-IR

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Optimal Normal Early IR Significant

Scale capped for display at 5.0. HOMA-IR cutoffs vary by population, age, BMI and insulin assay — use locally validated reference values where available.

Related indices

HOMA-%B

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Beta-cell function (%)

HOMA-%S

–

Insulin sensitivity (%)

QUICKI

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Quantitative insulin sensitivity check

HOMA-IR Interpretation Ranges

Optimal

<1.0

Insulin sensitive

Normal

1.0–1.9

Within usual range

Early Resistance

2.0–2.9

Borderline / early IR

Significant

≥3.0

Likely insulin resistant

Formula

HOMA-IR = (Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL) × Fasting Glucose (mmol/L)) ÷ 22.5 HOMA-IR = (Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL) × Fasting Glucose (mg/dL)) ÷ 405 HOMA-%B = (20 × Insulin (µIU/mL)) ÷ (Glucose (mmol/L) − 3.5) HOMA-%S = 100 ÷ HOMA-IR QUICKI = 1 ÷ (log₁₀ Insulin (µIU/mL) + log₁₀ Glucose (mg/dL))

About HOMA-IR

The Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) estimates insulin resistance and beta-cell function from paired fasting glucose and insulin measurements, based on the feedback relationship between the pancreas and liver in the fasting state. It is a simple, inexpensive surrogate for the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, widely used in epidemiology and clinical research.

Conditions associated with raised HOMA-IR

Obesity, particularly central/visceral adiposity
Metabolic syndrome and prediabetes / type 2 diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Certain medications (e.g. glucocorticoids) and acute illness or stress

Limitations

There is no universally accepted HOMA-IR cutoff — thresholds differ by ethnicity, age, BMI, and the insulin assay used
Not valid for patients on exogenous insulin therapy, and unreliable in advanced beta-cell failure or when fasting glucose is markedly elevated
HOMA-%B is undefined when fasting glucose is 3.5 mmol/L (63 mg/dL) or below
Fasting insulin measurement is not well standardized between assays, which can shift results between laboratories
A single measurement has day-to-day variability — interpret alongside clinical context, HbA1c, and lipid profile