Avoid Salt guide
How much sodium per day? Reference values explained
There is no single number that functions as a personal sodium prescription for everyone. Public-health bodies publish reference values for populations, while a clinician may give an individual different guidance.
FDA Daily Value: 2,300 mg
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses 2,300 mg of sodium as the Daily Value on Nutrition Facts labels. Percent Daily Value helps show how much one serving contributes to that reference amount.
U.S. public-health guidance
The CDC states that federal dietary guidance recommends less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for teens and adults as part of a healthy eating pattern.
WHO recommendation
The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium per day, which it describes as equivalent to less than 5 grams of salt per day.
American Heart Association guidance
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg per day and describes 1,500 mg per day as an optimal goal for most adults. That does not make 1,500 mg a universal target for every visitor to this site.
How Avoid Salt uses reference values
Our calculators identify the reference value used in every comparison. A result such as “55% of the FDA Daily Value” describes arithmetic. It does not tell you how much sodium you personally should eat.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The Daily Value for sodium on U.S. Nutrition Facts labels is 2,300 mg. FDA guidance describes 5% Daily Value or less per serving as low and 20% or more as high.
Verified 2026-08-10 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The body needs a small amount of sodium; excess sodium can raise blood pressure; most U.S. sodium intake comes from packaged and restaurant foods; federal guidance recommends less than 2,300 mg daily for teens and adults.
Verified 2026-08-10 - World Health Organization
WHO recommends adults consume less than 2,000 mg sodium per day, equivalent to less than 5 g salt per day.
Verified 2026-08-10 - American Heart Association
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg sodium per day and an optimal goal of no more than 1,500 mg for most adults.
Verified 2026-08-10