About the Percent Daily Value Calculator
The % Daily Value (%DV) on a Nutrition Facts label shows how much a serving of food contributes to the total amount of a nutrient recommended for a day. This calculator does that math for any amount you enter, using the current FDA Daily Values that apply to labels for adults and children aged 4 and over — for example 2,300 mg of sodium, 28 g of fiber and 50 g of added sugars.
Labels assume a 2,000-calorie diet. If you eat more or less, the calculator scales the calorie-based nutrients (total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, fiber, added sugars and protein) to your calorie level, while fixed nutrients such as sodium, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals stay the same. It is useful for checking homemade recipes, comparing products, or building a nutrition label.
The FDA’s rule of thumb is that 5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving is low and 20% DV or more is high. Aim low for sodium, saturated fat and added sugars, and high for fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.
With the default inputs, the percent daily value is 21%. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the percent daily value calculator
- 1Choose the nutrient you want to check.
- 2Enter the amount per serving in the unit shown (g, mg or mcg).
- 3Set how many servings you ate.
- 4Change daily calories if you do not eat about 2,000 kcal.
- 5Read the %DV and whether it is low, moderate or high.
Formula and method
Percent Daily Value divides the amount of a nutrient you eat by the FDA reference Daily Value and multiplies by 100. The Daily Values used here are those in the FDA’s 2016 Nutrition Facts rule for adults and children 4 years and older.
Six Daily Values are derived from a 2,000-calorie diet — total fat (78 g), saturated fat (20 g), total carbohydrate (275 g), dietary fiber (28 g), added sugars (50 g) and protein (50 g) — so they are scaled in proportion to your calories. Sodium, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals have fixed Daily Values regardless of calories. Official labels also round %DV to whole numbers.
- DV₂₀₀₀
- FDA Daily Value based on a 2,000-calorie diet
- Calories
- Your daily calorie intake
Worked examples
480 mg sodium in a can of soup
480 ÷ 2,300 × 100 = 20.9%, which a label would round to 21% DV. At 20% or more, that serving is considered high in sodium.
7 g fiber on a 1,600 kcal diet
The fiber DV scales from 28 g at 2,000 kcal to 28 × 1,600 ÷ 2,000 = 22.4 g. So 7 g is 31% of your daily fiber target, leaving 15.4 g to go.
Two servings with 12 g added sugar each
Two servings provide 24 g of added sugars. Against the 50 g Daily Value that is 48% DV — nearly half the day’s limit.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate percent daily value?+
Divide the amount of the nutrient in the serving by its Daily Value and multiply by 100. For example, 460 mg of sodium ÷ 2,300 mg × 100 = 20% DV.
What is a high or low %DV?+
The FDA guideline is that 5% DV or less per serving is low and 20% DV or more is high. Choose foods low in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars, and high in fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin D.
Is %DV based on 2,000 calories?+
Partly. Daily Values for fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, fiber, added sugars and protein come from a 2,000-calorie diet. Sodium, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals have fixed values that do not depend on calories.
What are the current FDA Daily Values?+
Key ones for adults are 78 g total fat, 20 g saturated fat, 2,300 mg sodium, 275 g carbohydrate, 28 g fiber, 50 g added sugars, 50 g protein, 20 mcg vitamin D, 1,300 mg calcium, 18 mg iron and 4,700 mg potassium.
Why is there no %DV for sugars or trans fat?+
There is no Daily Value for total sugars or trans fat, so labels show grams only. Added sugars do have a DV of 50 g, because guidelines recommend keeping them under 10% of calories.
This tool gives general estimates and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or qualified professional about your health, diet or training.