What is a normal level of hemoglobin?

The normal levels of hemoglobin are between 13.5 and 17.5 grams per deciliter of blood for men, and between 12.0 and 15.5 grams per deciliter of blood for women. If hemoglobin is lower than the normal level, a diagnosis of anemia can be made, notes Mayo Clinic.

A level of hemoglobin in the blood that is higher than normal could be caused by a number of factors, as outlined by Mayo Clinic. These include lung disease, dehydration, living at a high altitude, heavy smoking, burns, excessive vomiting and excessive physical strain or exercise. A higher than normal hemoglobin level may also be indicative of polycythemia vera, a condition whereby the bone marrow produces surplus red blood cells.