Percent Daily Value Calculator
Pick a nutrient and enter the amount in 1 serving. The tool divides by the FDA Daily Value (such as 2,300 mg sodium) to find the label %DV and 5%/20% guide.
Last reviewed
% Daily Value and FDA label breakdown
% Daily Value, as a label shows it
37%
FDA general guide to %DV
High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high"
Daily Value used
2,300 mg
21 CFR 101.9(c) label-rounded weight
850 mg (21 CFR 101.9(c)(4): > 140 mg rounded to nearest 10 mg)
FDA nutrient content claim benchmark
High sodium (20 percent or more of DV per FDA 5/20 guide; exceeds 140 mg low-sodium cap)
Total nutrient in portion eaten
850 mg
Portion % Daily Value
37%
Remaining daily allowance after portion
1,450 mg remaining (of 2,300 mg DV)
Calorie-adjusted reference for your diet
2,300 mg (not calorie-linked in 21 CFR 101.9)
Amount equal to target %DV
460 mg
One serving with 850 mg of sodium is 36.96% of the 2,300 mg Daily Value. A label prints this as 37% DV.
On the FDA guide, 37% DV is rated as: High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high".
After 1 serving, 1,450 mg remaining (of 2,300 mg DV). A reverse lookup target of 20 percent DV equals 460 mg.
Nutrient amount, portion size, and reference diet
- 1-serving amount = 850 mg (Adults and children ≥ 4 years (2,000 kcal) Daily Value = 2,300 mg)
- Portion total = 850 mg × 1 = 850 mg (36.96% exact ≈ 37% DV)
- Exact %DV = 850 ÷ 2,300 × 100 ≈ 36.96%
- Label %DV = 36.96% rounded = 37%
The amount against the FDA's 5% and 20% lines
Percent Daily Value at each amount of sodium
At 115 mg per serving, sodium sits at 5% DV (the FDA low boundary); 460 mg reaches 20% DV (the FDA high boundary), and 2,300 mg reaches 100% DV.
| Sodium (mg) | Exact %DV | On a label | Portion %DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 mg | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 35 mg | 1.52% | 2% | 2% |
| 115 mg | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| 140 mg | 6.09% | 6% | 6% |
| 300 mg | 13.04% | 13% | 13% |
| 460 mg | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| 600 mg | 26.09% | 26% | 26% |
| 850 mg (closest to your input) | 36.96% | 37% | 37% |
| 1,150 mg | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| 1,700 mg | 73.91% | 74% | 74% |
| 2,300 mg | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Portion % Daily Value of sodium across serving counts, with milligrams per serving down the side and servings eaten across the top.
| Sodium amount by servings eaten | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 mg | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 35 mg | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 6% |
| 115 mg | 3% | 5% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% |
| 140 mg | 3% | 6% | 9% | 12% | 18% | 24% |
| 300 mg | 7% | 13% | 20% | 26% | 39% | 52% |
| 460 mg | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 60% | 80% |
| 600 mg | 13% | 26% | 39% | 52% | 78% | 104% |
| 850 mg (closest to your input) | 18% | 37% | 55% | 74% | 111% | 148% |
| 1,150 mg | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 150% | 200% |
| 1,700 mg | 37% | 74% | 111% | 148% | 222% | 296% |
| 2,300 mg | 50% | 100% | 150% | 200% | 300% | 400% |
Where the amount sits against the FDA guide
| Marker | Amount | % Daily Value | Label %DV (%) | FDA 5% / 20% guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low line, 5% DV | 115 mg | 5.0 | 5 | Low. FDA: "5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving is considered low" |
| High line, 20% DV | 460 mg | 20.0 | 20 | High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high" |
| Your amount | 850 mg | 37.0 | 37 | High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high" |
| Daily Value, 100% | 2,300 mg | 100.0 | 100 | Full FDA Daily Value (Adults and children ≥ 4 years (2,000 kcal)) |
For 1 serving of 850 mg sodium, your exact share is 36.96% DV (37% label DV) against the 2,300 mg reference value.
21 CFR 101.9 Daily Values across all four FDA life-stage groups
| Life-stage group | Reference Daily Value | Exact %DV (%) | Label %DV (%) | FDA 5% / 20% guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and children ≥ 4 years (2,000 kcal) | 2,300 mg | 36.96 | 37 | High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high" |
| Children 1 through 3 years (1,000 kcal) | 1,500 mg | 56.67 | 57 | High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high" |
| Pregnant and lactating women (2,000 kcal) | 2,300 mg | 36.96 | 37 | High. FDA: "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high" |
| Infants through 12 months | Not established (21 CFR 101.9(j)(5)(ii)) | N/A | Not declared on infant labels | Not declared under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(5)(ii)(A) |
Compares 850 mg of sodium across all four 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) and (c)(9) life-stage columns.
Complete 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) and (c)(9) Daily Value reference table
| Nutrient | FDA Daily Value | 5% DV (Low) | 10% DV (Good source) | 20% DV (High) | 21 CFR 101.9 rounding rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 2,300 mg | 115 mg | 230 mg | 460 mg | <5 mg -> 0 mg; 5-140 mg -> nearest 5 mg; >140 mg -> nearest 10 mg; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Added sugars | 50 g | 2.5 g | 5 g | 10 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <1 g -> <1 g; >=1 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Dietary fiber | 28 g | 1.4 g | 2.8 g | 5.6 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <1 g -> <1 g; >=1 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Protein | 50 g | 2.5 g | 5 g | 10 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <1 g -> <1 g; >=1 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Total fat | 78 g | 3.9 g | 7.8 g | 15.6 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <5 g -> nearest 0.5 g; >=5 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Saturated fat | 20 g | 1 g | 2 g | 4 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <5 g -> nearest 0.5 g; >=5 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Cholesterol | 300 mg | 15 mg | 30 mg | 60 mg | <2 mg -> 0 mg; 2-5 mg -> <5 mg; >5 mg -> nearest 5 mg; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Total carbohydrate | 275 g | 13.75 g | 27.5 g | 55 g | <0.5 g -> 0 g; <1 g -> <1 g; >=1 g -> nearest 1 g; DV share -> nearest whole percent |
| Vitamin D | 20 mcg | 1 mcg | 2 mcg | 4 mcg | Amount -> nearest 0.1 mcg (<2 percent RDI -> 0 mcg); DV share -> 2 / 5 / 10 percent steps |
| Calcium | 1,300 mg | 65 mg | 130 mg | 260 mg | Amount -> nearest 10 mg (<2 percent RDI -> 0 mg); DV share -> 2 / 5 / 10 percent steps |
| Iron | 18 mg | 0.9 mg | 1.8 mg | 3.6 mg | Amount -> nearest 0.1 mg (<2 percent RDI -> 0 mg); DV share -> 2 / 5 / 10 percent steps |
| Potassium | 4,700 mg | 235 mg | 470 mg | 940 mg | Amount -> nearest 10 mg (<2 percent RDI -> 0 mg); DV share -> 2 / 5 / 10 percent steps |
Shows all 12 mandatory 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(ii) and (c)(9) Nutrition Facts DRV and RDI benchmarks for the selected Adults and children ≥ 4 years (2,000 kcal) group.
How FDA Daily Values, 21 CFR 101.9 rounding, and the 5%/20% guide work
The FDA sets two kinds of daily benchmarks on US food labels. Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(9), Daily Reference Values (DRVs) cover fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, added sugars, and protein. Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv), Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) cover vitamins and minerals. Both groups use one label name: the Daily Value (DV).
To find the Percent Daily Value (%DV), divide the amount in 1 serving by the Daily Value. Then multiply that result by 100. For DRV lines, 21 CFR 101.9(d)(7)(ii) rounds to the nearest whole percent. Exact halves round up. You can scale a full food box at once in the portion tool.
To help shoppers read boxes fast, the FDA uses the 5% and 20% rule of thumb. Any serving with 5% DV or less is low in that nutrient. Any serving with 20% DV or more is high. Scores from 6% DV to 19% DV sit in the middle range.
Nutrients to limit vs. nutrients to get more of, and 21 CFR 101.54 claims
Whether a low or high score helps your diet depends on the nutrient. Saturated fat, sodium, cholesterol, and added sugars are lines to limit. Keeping their per-serving share near 5% DV leaves room for other meals. Fiber, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium are lines to get more of, where 20% DV or higher is a strong source.
Package claims follow strict rules per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) in 21 CFR 101.12. Under 21 CFR 101.54, a food with 10% to 19% DV of a helpful nutrient is a good source. Reaching 20% DV or more counts as high, rich in, or an excellent source. Total carbs cannot use 21 CFR 101.54 claims.
Low claims use gram or milligram caps instead of %DV alone. Under 21 CFR 101.61, very low sodium allows 35 mg or less per RACC. Low sodium allows 140 mg or less. Under 21 CFR 101.62, low fat allows 3 g or less, low saturated fat allows 1 g (and 15% of calories), and low cholesterol allows 20 mg. Test claims in the claim tool.
Stepped RDI micronutrient rounding (21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iii)) and life-stage columns
While DRV lines round to whole-number steps, vitamins and minerals use wider steps under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iii). Shares under 2% RDI round to 0% (or use a less-than-2-percent note). From 2 through 10 percent RDI, shares round to even 2-point steps. Above 10 through 50 percent RDI, they round to 5-point steps, and above 50% RDI they round to 10-point steps.
Standard boxes use the adult column for ages 4 and up. Toddler foods for ages 1 to 3 use lower targets, such as 700 mg calcium and 3,000 mg potassium. Prenatal foods use the pregnant and lactating column, where potassium rises to 5,100 mg. Check weight rounding in the label rounding tool and RACC weights in the serving size RACC tool.
Custom calorie-diet DRV scaling and 21 CFR 101.9(g) lab compliance
Under Footnotes 1 and 2 of 21 CFR 101.9(c)(9), six DRVs scale with calories. Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(1)(i)(B), carbs and protein hold 4 kcal/g and fat holds 9 kcal/g. The diet shares are 35% of calories from fat, 10% from saturated fat, and 55% from carbs. Added sugars and protein each use 10%, and fiber uses 14 g per 1,000 kcal. Sodium, cholesterol, and all 27 vitamins and minerals stay fixed.
For lab checks under 21 CFR 101.9(g), added Class I nutrients must hit at least 100% of the label weight. Natural Class II nutrients must hit at least 80%. Nutrients to limit cannot pass 120% of the label weight. Check lab tolerances in the composite class limits tool.
Video walkthrough
A 3-minute walkthrough of how a food label's percent Daily Value is divided out, rounded for print, and read against the low and high guide.
Read the transcript
What the percent Daily Value means
0:00 How much of a day's sodium does one serving of this food use up?
0:04 The label prints 37% of the day's sodium, on the page's example, the frozen lasagna.
0:10 It is 850 mg of sodium, out of the Daily Value of 2,300 mg for adults.
0:18 The page's own sheet divides the first by the second, then turns it into 37%.
Low and high on the label
0:24 The FDA's guide sorts that percent into bands.
0:27 At 5% Daily Value or less, it calls a serving low in the nutrient.
0:32 At 20% or more, it calls it high.
0:35 In between, the guide names neither word.
0:38 For sodium, the low line is 115 mg, and the high line is 460 mg.
0:45 Those are 5% and 20% of the Daily Value.
0:49 The page's chart draws the same lines as bars: the low line, the high line, and this serving's 37% share past both.
0:57 The guide reads that share as high.
Why the printed percent is rounded
1:00 A label rounds the division before printing it.
1:03 On the page's sheet, the full share works out to less than 37%.
1:08 Rounding it the way a label rounds prints 37%.
1:12 Sodium has a Daily Reference Value, and its percent rounds to the nearest whole percent.
1:18 Other vitamins and minerals are declared against a Reference Daily Intake, so their percents round in steps.
1:24 On the sample line, potassium works out to exactly 5% of its own Daily Value.
1:30 The label prints 6%.
1:33 Iron steps the same way, in a higher band.
1:36 On the sample line, iron works out to about 44%, and the nearest step of that band prints 45%.
1:43 Those label figures come straight from the labeling text's sample line.
1:47 It prints the rounded percent beside each amount.
When the servings add up
1:51 Now eat 2 servings of the lasagna.
1:54 The sodium on the page doubles to 1,700 mg, and the share of the day's sodium climbs to 74%.
2:02 The FDA's own sample table prints that pair for its lasagna.
2:06 Eating this much leaves 600 mg of sodium for the rest of the day.
Whose daily budget it is
2:12 That budget is not the same in every column of the FDA's table.
2:16 For toddlers, the sodium Daily Value is smaller: 1,500 mg, so this serving reads 57% of the day where the adult column reads 37%.
2:28 Set the page to that column, and type the high line's amount into the sodium box.
2:33 Against the smaller budget, the label prints 31% of the day for that same amount, while the adult column prints 20%.
What the percent leaves to you
2:42 So a percent Daily Value is a share of one person's daily budget — not a grade for the food.
2:48 The guide's bands, 5% and 20%, read one labeled serving at a time, like this serving's 850 mg of sodium, not a whole day's worth.
2:59 Remember it as a share of one daily budget — 2,300 mg of sodium — printed as a rounded step.
3:06 Check your own label at fastcalc.us.
Percent Daily Value (%DV) and 21 CFR 101.9 rounding formulas
% DV = amount per serving ÷ Daily Value × 100 DRV label % DV = % DV rounded to the nearest whole percent (21 CFR 101.9(d)(7)(ii)) RDI label % DV = 0% (<2% RDI); nearest 2% (2%–10% RDI); nearest 5% (10%–50% RDI); nearest 10% (>50% RDI) (21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iii)) low: label % DV ≤ 5; high: label % DV ≥ 20 (FDA general guide) custom calorie DRV = stage DRV × (custom kcal ÷ reference kcal) for fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, fiber, added sugars, and protein target amount = Daily Value × (target %DV ÷ 100)
Worked Nutrition Facts % Daily Value examples
One 1-cup serving of the FDA sample lasagna has 850 mg sodium, 9 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 34 g carbs, and 4 g fiber. For sodium, 850 ÷ 2,300 × 100 = 36.96%, which prints as 37% DV (high). For fat, 9 ÷ 78 × 100 = 11.54% (12% DV). For saturated fat, 4.5 ÷ 20 × 100 = 22.5%, which rounds half-up to 23% DV (high). Carbs are 34 ÷ 275 × 100 = 12.36% (12% DV), and fiber is 4 ÷ 28 × 100 = 14.29% (14% DV, a good source). Eating 2 cups doubles sodium to 1,700 mg (73.91% exact, 74% DV). That leaves 600 mg (26.1% of the day's limit).
On the 21 CFR 101.9(d)(8) sample label, vitamins and minerals show stepped RDI rounding. First, 2 mcg vitamin D (20 mcg RDI) is 10% DV, and 260 mg calcium (1,300 mg RDI) is 20% DV. For 8 mg iron (18 mg RDI), 8 ÷ 18 × 100 = 44.44%, which rounds to the nearest 5-point step to print as 45% DV. For 235 mg potassium (4,700 mg RDI), 235 ÷ 4,700 × 100 = 5.0% exact. In the 2-point even-step band, 5.0% sits halfway between four and six and rounds up to 6% DV.
Changing the life stage or calorie target changes the daily budget. One serving with 15 g protein is 15 ÷ 50 × 100 = 30% DV on the 50 g adult DRV. On the 71 g pregnant and lactating RDI, 15 ÷ 71 × 100 = 21.13% (21% label DV). Likewise, 12.5 g of added sugars is 25% DV on a 2,000 kcal label. On a 2,500 kcal diet, the target rises to 62.5 g, so 12.5 g is 20% of the custom limit.
Assumptions, life-stage limits, and 21 CFR 101.9 rounding rules
- Daily Values come from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) and (c)(9), current in 2026. The tables cover all four FDA groups: ages 4 and up, ages 1 to 3, pregnant and lactating women, and infants through 12 months.
- The low and high cutoffs come from the FDA guide (March 5, 2024): "5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving is considered low" and "20% DV or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high".
- Under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(5)(ii)(A), infant labels do not print a %DV for saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, or sugars. Infant values in the table cover fat (30 g), carbs (95 g), protein (11 g), vitamin D (10 mcg), calcium (260 mg), and iron (11 mg).
- Under 21 CFR 101.9(d)(7)(ii), makers may find %DV from either the raw lab weight or the rounded label weight. Near a half-percent mark, the two methods can differ by 1 percentage point.
- Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(7)(i)–(ii), protein %DV is optional on adult boxes unless the box makes a protein claim. When a claim is made, the gram weight is multiplied by the PDCAAS protein quality score before dividing by the DRV.
These figures are general information, not medical or dietary advice. Ask a doctor or registered dietitian about your own needs. Terms of use.
What to do with your % Daily Value numbers
Keep sodium at or below 115 mg (5% DV) for low-sodium staples. Treat any dish with 460 mg or more (20% DV) as high in sodium. You can convert milligrams of sodium into kitchen salt in the salt to sodium tool.
Keep added sugars at or below 2.5 g (5% DV) per serving in daily snacks and drinks. Watch sweet drinks or treats that hit 10 g (20% DV). Convert sugar grams into teaspoons in the sugar to teaspoons tool.
Aim for 2.8 g (10% DV, a good source) to 5.6 g (20% DV, a high source) of fiber per serving in bread, oats, and beans. You can also plan daily protein goals in the protein per day tool.
Look for foods with at least 1.8 mg iron (10% DV), 470 mg potassium (10% DV), or 940 mg potassium (20% DV) per serving. If your bottle lists IU, convert to mcg in the vitamin unit converter.
Percent Daily Value (%DV) and FDA label questions
Why does the FDA use 2,000 calories as the standard Daily Value diet?
Under 21 CFR 101.9(d)(9), the FDA picked 2,000 calories as a standard benchmark for ages 4 and up. That lets every box print shares on the same scale, such as 78 g fat, 275 g carbs, and 28 g fiber.
Do the % Daily Values in one column of a Nutrition Facts label add up to 100%?
No. Each nutrient is checked on its own against its own daily limit, such as 300 mg cholesterol or 1,300 mg calcium. The numbers down a column are shares of separate daily budgets, not slices of one 100% pie.
Why can a food with 140 mg of sodium claim to be 'Low Sodium' when 140 mg is 6% DV?
The consumer 5-and-20 guide is a shopping rule of thumb, whereas package claims use fixed weight caps per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed in 21 CFR 101.12. Under 21 CFR 101.61(b)(4), any food with 140 mg of sodium or less per reference amount qualifies for a low-sodium claim, even though 140 ÷ 2,300 is 6.09% DV.
When does a food label have to show a Percent Daily Value for protein?
Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(7)(i), printing a %DV for protein is optional on adult food boxes unless the package makes a protein claim or is meant for children under 4 years old. When a box prints protein %DV, the lab tests protein quality (PDCAAS) and divides the adjusted gram weight by the 50 g adult DRV (or the 13 g toddler DRV for ages 1 to 3).
Do total sugars or trans fat have a Percent Daily Value?
No. In 21 CFR 101.9(c)(9), the FDA sets a 50 g Daily Value for added sugars (about 12 teaspoons at 4.2 g per tsp), not total sugars. Trans fat has no DRV because no safe intake level exists.
How does eating more than one serving change the 5% low and 20% high guide?
The 5% low and 20% high guide applies to 1 labeled serving (such as 1 cup = 240 mL milk or 12 fl oz = 360 mL soda). Eating 2 servings doubles both the weight and the %DV, turning a 12% DV serving into a 24% DV meal share.
Sources
- eCFR, 21 CFR 101.9, Nutrition labeling of food (current version)
- eCFR, 21 CFR 101.54, Nutrient content claims for good source, high, more, and high potency (current version)
- eCFR, 21 CFR 101.61, Nutrient content claims for the sodium content of foods (current version)
- eCFR, 21 CFR 101.62, Nutrient content claims for fat, fatty acid, and cholesterol content of foods (current version)
- eCFR, 21 CFR 101.12, Reference amounts customarily consumed per eating occasion (current version)
- FDA, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (page reviewed Mar 5, 2024)
- FDA, How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label (page reviewed Mar 5, 2024)
- FDA, Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label (page reviewed Mar 4, 2026)
- FDA, Calories on the Nutrition Facts Label (page reviewed Mar 5, 2024)
- FDA, Serving Size on the Nutrition Facts Label (page reviewed Mar 5, 2024)
- FDA, Sodium in Your Diet: Use the Nutrition Facts Label and Reduce Your Intake (page reviewed Mar 5, 2024)
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