Blood Urea Nitrogen— Normal Range & What Your Result Means

Kidney waste marker

Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen range (BUN, mg/dL)

  • Adults7–20 mg/dL

Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs. Use the range on your own report.

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What is Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)?

Blood Urea Nitrogen is measured as part of a kidney function panel. Your BUN is normal — kidney waste filtration is working well.

What does a high Blood Urea Nitrogen mean?

Elevated BUN can indicate dehydration, high protein intake, kidney disease, or internal bleeding. Usually interpreted alongside creatinine.

If markedly elevated: Critically high BUN indicates severe kidney dysfunction. Urgent evaluation is needed.

What does a low Blood Urea Nitrogen mean?

Low BUN is rarely clinically significant — sometimes seen with liver disease or low-protein diet.

Understand your whole report, not just one number

A single value rarely tells the full story — Blood Urea Nitrogen is best read alongside the rest of your panel. Paste your values or upload your report and get a plain-English explanation of every marker, with the important results flagged.

Blood Urea Nitrogen: frequently asked questions

What is a normal Blood Urea Nitrogen level?

A normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) level is 7–20 mg/dL for adults. Reference ranges vary slightly between laboratories, so always compare against the range printed on your own report.

What does a high Blood Urea Nitrogen mean?

Elevated BUN can indicate dehydration, high protein intake, kidney disease, or internal bleeding. Usually interpreted alongside creatinine.

What does a low Blood Urea Nitrogen mean?

Low BUN is rarely clinically significant — sometimes seen with liver disease or low-protein diet.

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