Sodium Intake Calculator
Daily sodium and salt limit by age and health. Free, private and instant.
How to use the Sodium Intake
- Enter age.
- Choose health status: General healthy adult, High blood pressure or heart disease or Chronic kidney disease (ask your doctor).
- Enter your current sodium (optional) (mg/day) - optional.
- Press Calculate to get an instant result with a colour scale, chart and plain-English explanation.
About the Sodium Intake
The sodium intake calculator gives your daily sodium limit in milligrams and the matching amount of salt. The WHO recommends under 2,000 mg of sodium (5 g of salt) for adults, and 1,500 mg is often advised for high blood pressure.
Also known as: salt intake calculator, sodium per day, salt to sodium converter, how much salt per day.
Worked example
- Age: 30 years
- Health status: General healthy adult
Daily sodium limit: 2,000 mg (WHO limit). Keep sodium under about 2,000 mg a day, which is 5.0 g of salt (about 0.8 teaspoon).
- Sodium limit: 2,000 mg
- Salt equivalent: 5.0 g
- Teaspoons of salt: 0.83
Formula and cut-offs
Salt (g) = sodium (mg) x 2.5 / 1,000. WHO adult limit 2,000 mg; AHA ideal 1,500 mg for high blood pressure; children 1,200-1,800 mg by age.
Frequently asked questions
How much sodium should I have a day?
Under 2,000 mg (5 g of salt) for healthy adults, and about 1,500 mg for people with high blood pressure.
Is sodium the same as salt?
No. Salt is sodium chloride. 1 g of sodium equals about 2.5 g of salt.
Where does most sodium come from?
Processed food, instant noodles, sauces, pickles and restaurant meals.
What is the daily sodium limit for a 30-year-old?
Daily sodium limit: 2,000 mg (WHO limit). Keep sodium under about 2,000 mg a day, which is 5.0 g of salt (about 0.8 teaspoon). Enter your own numbers above for a personal result.
Sources and references
- World Health Organization - Healthy diet fact sheet
- National Academies - Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate
Written and checked by the MediHub editorial team against the sources above. Read how we build and review our calculators.
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Last updated . This calculator is for education only and is not medical advice. See the medical disclaimer.