Ferritin Normal Range — WHO Thresholds
New to reading lab reports? Start with our guide to reading a blood test report
Ferritin shows how much iron your body has tucked away in storage.
Ferritin is a key iron marker many people meet when checking for tiredness or wellbeing. Because it mirrors your reserves so sensitively, it often shifts before other readings do.
Also known as: Serum Ferritin, Ferritin Level, SF, Ferritin Serum
This isn't a case where higher or lower is better. Your body keeps it in a narrow band, and both directions can matter.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-16
What does Ferritin do in your body?
This protein locks spare iron away inside cells and releases it when the body runs short, so its level tracks the reserve you have banked. When that reserve drains, tiredness and pale skin can follow, which is why a low reading matters even before other markers move [WHO, 2011].
Ferritin is your body's iron savings account, showing how much you have set aside for a rainy day.
What is Ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. Its blood level mirrors the size of your body's iron reserves.
Why is Ferritin tested?
Your doctor uses it to see whether your iron stores are low, healthy, or high. It is often the first marker to change when iron shifts.
How is Ferritin different from Serum Iron?
Ferritin shows the iron your body has in storage. Serum iron shows the iron moving in your blood right now, which swings with meals and the time of day. Ferritin gives the steadier picture of your reserves [WHO, 2020].
Learn about Serum IronWhat is a normal Ferritin range?
- India
- No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison.
- Global
- Adults: 12–300 ng/mL (men); 12–150 ng/mL (women); <12 ng/mL may indicate depleted stores; >300 ng/mL may indicate excess
Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
Source: [WHO, 2011]
Does the normal Ferritin range differ by age or sex?
| Group | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men | about 30–300 ng/mL | CLSI (2010) |
| Women | about 15–200 ng/mL | CLSI (2010) |
What does a Ferritin of 15 mean?
Find your Ferritin result in the table below, then read the band it falls into. Each band names the guideline body it comes from. Always compare against the range printed on your own report.
| If your result is | Band | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Below 15 ng/mL | Depleted iron stores | WHO (2020) |
| 15–30 ng/mL | Low iron stores | WHO (2020) |
| 30 ng/mL and above | Within the usual range | WHO (2020) |
Ferritin Below 15 ng/mL — Depleted iron stores
If your result is 5, 8, 10, 12 or anywhere in this band: Ferritin reflects your iron stores. A low value points to empty stores, which is a common and treatable cause of tiredness.
Source: [WHO, 2020]
Worth asking your doctor
- Do my low iron stores explain how I have been feeling?
- What is the best way to build my iron back up?
Ferritin 15–30 ng/mL — Low iron stores
If your result is 15, 20, 25, 29 or anywhere in this band: This is on the low side, especially if you feel tired or have heavy periods. It is read with the rest of your iron results.
Source: [WHO, 2020]
Worth asking your doctor
- Are my iron stores low enough to act on?
- Would the rest of my iron results add to the picture?
Ferritin 30 ng/mL and above — Within the usual range
If your result is 30, 50, 100, 150 or anywhere in this band: This suggests your iron stores are not depleted. Ferritin also rises with infection or inflammation, so a high value is read carefully. Upper limits vary by lab and sex.
Source: [WHO, 2020]
Worth asking your doctor
- Are my iron stores in a healthy place for me?
What does a high Ferritin result mean?
A high level can mean stored iron is high. It can also rise with inflammation, infection, or liver strain, so your doctor reads it in context.
What does a low Ferritin result mean?
A low level strongly suggests your iron stores are running down. People may notice tiredness, less stamina, or looking pale.
What happens when your Ferritin is low?
When stores run down, your body has less iron to make healthy red cells, so blood carries less oxygen and tiredness can follow [WHO, 2011].
Which foods are rich in Ferritin?
- In India
- iron-rich foods build your stores: green leafy vegetables, dals, jaggery, and dates; pairing them with vitamin C helps absorptionICMR-NIN (2017)
- Internationally
- red meat, beans, lentils, spinach, and fortified cerealsUSDA FoodData Central (2024)
What can affect your Ferritin result?
- Iron in your diet
- Ongoing blood loss
- Inflammation or infection
- Liver health
- Family history
In the Indian context
Because iron deficiency is common in India, ferritin is widely used in health surveys. It helps check iron levels, especially in women and young children.
Questions to ask your doctor
About this result
- What does my Ferritin result mean for me specifically, given my age and health?
- Is my Ferritin in the range that is right for me, not just the lab's general range?
What to do next
- Could anything I eat, do, or take have affected my iron store result?
- Is there anything I should do about my Ferritin, or is it fine to leave as it is?
About retesting
- Does my Ferritin need to be repeated, and if so, when?
- The typical range for Ferritin can vary between labs — should I compare my result against my own lab's printed range?
The bigger picture
- Should my Ferritin be looked at together with my Serum Iron and TIBC result?
- Does my Ferritin connect to any condition I already have, or to anything I have noticed in how I feel?
Frequently asked questions
- What is Ferritin?
- Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. Its blood level mirrors the size of your body's iron reserves. Your doctor uses it to see whether your iron stores are low, healthy, or high. It is often the first marker to change when iron shifts.
- What is a normal iron store test range?
- A typical adult range is around Adults: 12–300 ng/mL (men); 12–150 ng/mL (women); <12 ng/mL may indicate depleted stores; >300 ng/mL may indicate excess. No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison. Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
- What does a high Ferritin result mean?
- A high level can mean stored iron is high. It can also rise with inflammation, infection, or liver strain, so your doctor reads it in context.
- What does a low Ferritin result mean?
- A low level strongly suggests your iron stores are running down. People may notice tiredness, less stamina, or looking pale.
- What can affect your Ferritin result?
- Several everyday factors can influence it, including Iron in your diet, Ongoing blood loss, Inflammation or infection, Liver health, Family history.
Sources
- WHO (2011) — WHO: Serum Ferritin Concentrations for the Assessment of Iron Status and Iron Deficiency in Populations
- British Society for Haematology (2021) — BSH Guidelines for the Management of Iron Deficiency in Adults Link
- ICMR-NIN (2017) — Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) Link
- USDA FoodData Central (2024) — USDA FoodData Central (National Nutrient Database) Link
- CLSI (2010) — CLSI EP28-A3c: Defining, Establishing, and Verifying Reference Intervals in the Clinical Laboratory
- WHO (2020) — WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations Link
Part of the Iron Studies
Related tests in this panel
Related reading
Check your Ferritin
Upload your report to see your Ferritin explained for you.
Upload your report