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Urine Osmolality

Panel: Urinalysis & Urine Tests · All urinalysis tests

Typical adult reference range

Conventional units50–1,200 mOsm/kg
SI units50–1,200 mmol/kg

Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.

What a high or low result can mean

High urine osmolality: high values reflect concentrated urine and can be seen in dehydration.

Low urine osmolality: low values reflect dilute urine and may occur with high water intake or impaired concentrating ability.

These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.

Good to know

The range is wide because it depends on hydration and solute intake.

◆ Kidney note

This test is closely tied to kidney health, and it is one a kidney specialist (nephrologist) watches closely. On this site, kidney-related results are a special focus: see the kidney and dialysis medicines in our Drug Guide and the kidney condition hubs for the wider picture.

Related tests — Urinalysis & Urine Tests

Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine RatioUrine BilirubinUrine BloodUrine CastsUrine Color and AppearanceUrine CreatinineUrine CultureUrine Glucose
Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.