Sodium Intake Calculator
Use this sodium intake calculator to track your daily sodium against the general limit and the stricter blood pressure target.
Updated September 18, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers. Your log resets when you leave this page.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Sodium Intake Is Calculated
Sodium is essential for fluid balance and nerve function, but typical intake in the US runs well above what's actually needed, and the excess is strongly tied to blood pressure. Two different reference points exist because they answer two different questions, what's the general upper limit, and what's the more protective target for people actively managing blood pressure¹².
What This Calculator Measures
This tracks your logged sodium intake across the day against two reference lines at once, rather than just one, so you can see where you fall relative to both the general limit and the more protective target.
The Formula
This is a running sum, not a calculation with a formula in the traditional sense. Each logged entry adds to a daily total, compared against two thresholds:
General limit: 2,300 mg/day, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans upper limit for the general population¹.
Ideal limit: 1,500 mg/day, the American Heart Association's stricter target, recommended especially for blood pressure management².
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Log sodium sources throughout the day using the quick-select dropdown or manual entry. We sum your running total and show it against both the 2,300 mg general limit and the 1,500 mg ideal limit, clearly labeled as two different reference points, not blended into one number.
Why the Stricter Target Exists, Not Just the General One
The case for the lower 1,500 mg target isn't theoretical. The DASH-Sodium trial, a landmark randomized controlled feeding study, tested three sodium levels combined with two different dietary patterns and found that reducing sodium intake lowered blood pressure at every level tested, with the largest reductions seen at the lowest sodium level combined with the DASH eating pattern³.
That trial is the direct evidence base behind AHA's stricter recommendation, it isn't just a more cautious guess, it's grounded in a controlled trial specifically designed to test what happens at different sodium levels.
A Note on Accuracy
Well over 80% of the U.S. population exceeds the 2,300 mg/day limit, most people's baseline intake is well above target before even accounting for less obvious sources, bread, sauces, and restaurant food account for the large majority of sodium intake, not the salt shaker. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the two sodium limits shown?
2,300 mg/day is the general Dietary Guidelines upper limit¹. 1,500 mg/day is the American Heart Association's stricter target, especially recommended for blood pressure management². Most adults would benefit from moving toward the lower figure even without diagnosed hypertension.
Is the 1,500 mg target based on real evidence?
Yes. The DASH-Sodium trial, a controlled feeding study, directly tested multiple sodium levels and found blood pressure improved at every step down, with the greatest benefit at the lowest level tested³.
Where does most sodium actually come from?
Mostly bread, sauces, processed foods, and restaurant meals, not the salt shaker at home. Most sodium in a typical diet is already baked into food before it reaches your plate.
Should I aim for a different target if I have a health condition?
Possibly. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Sources
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, USDA & HHS
2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, American Heart Association, Circulation, 2021
Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, Sacks et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2001
Sodium Intake Calculator
Use this sodium intake calculator to track your daily sodium against the general limit and the stricter blood pressure target.
Updated September 18, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers. Your log resets when you leave this page.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Sodium Intake Is Calculated
Sodium is essential for fluid balance and nerve function, but typical intake in the US runs well above what's actually needed, and the excess is strongly tied to blood pressure. Two different reference points exist because they answer two different questions, what's the general upper limit, and what's the more protective target for people actively managing blood pressure¹².
What This Calculator Measures
This tracks your logged sodium intake across the day against two reference lines at once, rather than just one, so you can see where you fall relative to both the general limit and the more protective target.
The Formula
This is a running sum, not a calculation with a formula in the traditional sense. Each logged entry adds to a daily total, compared against two thresholds:
General limit: 2,300 mg/day, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans upper limit for the general population¹.
Ideal limit: 1,500 mg/day, the American Heart Association's stricter target, recommended especially for blood pressure management².
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Log sodium sources throughout the day using the quick-select dropdown or manual entry. We sum your running total and show it against both the 2,300 mg general limit and the 1,500 mg ideal limit, clearly labeled as two different reference points, not blended into one number.
Why the Stricter Target Exists, Not Just the General One
The case for the lower 1,500 mg target isn't theoretical. The DASH-Sodium trial, a landmark randomized controlled feeding study, tested three sodium levels combined with two different dietary patterns and found that reducing sodium intake lowered blood pressure at every level tested, with the largest reductions seen at the lowest sodium level combined with the DASH eating pattern³.
That trial is the direct evidence base behind AHA's stricter recommendation, it isn't just a more cautious guess, it's grounded in a controlled trial specifically designed to test what happens at different sodium levels.
A Note on Accuracy
Well over 80% of the U.S. population exceeds the 2,300 mg/day limit, most people's baseline intake is well above target before even accounting for less obvious sources, bread, sauces, and restaurant food account for the large majority of sodium intake, not the salt shaker. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the two sodium limits shown?
2,300 mg/day is the general Dietary Guidelines upper limit¹. 1,500 mg/day is the American Heart Association's stricter target, especially recommended for blood pressure management². Most adults would benefit from moving toward the lower figure even without diagnosed hypertension.
Is the 1,500 mg target based on real evidence?
Yes. The DASH-Sodium trial, a controlled feeding study, directly tested multiple sodium levels and found blood pressure improved at every step down, with the greatest benefit at the lowest level tested³.
Where does most sodium actually come from?
Mostly bread, sauces, processed foods, and restaurant meals, not the salt shaker at home. Most sodium in a typical diet is already baked into food before it reaches your plate.
Should I aim for a different target if I have a health condition?
Possibly. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Sources
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, USDA & HHS
2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, American Heart Association, Circulation, 2021
Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, Sacks et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2001
Sodium Intake Calculator
Use this sodium intake calculator to track your daily sodium against the general limit and the stricter blood pressure target.
Updated September 18, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers. Your log resets when you leave this page.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Sodium Intake Is Calculated
Sodium is essential for fluid balance and nerve function, but typical intake in the US runs well above what's actually needed, and the excess is strongly tied to blood pressure. Two different reference points exist because they answer two different questions, what's the general upper limit, and what's the more protective target for people actively managing blood pressure¹².
What This Calculator Measures
This tracks your logged sodium intake across the day against two reference lines at once, rather than just one, so you can see where you fall relative to both the general limit and the more protective target.
The Formula
This is a running sum, not a calculation with a formula in the traditional sense. Each logged entry adds to a daily total, compared against two thresholds:
General limit: 2,300 mg/day, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans upper limit for the general population¹.
Ideal limit: 1,500 mg/day, the American Heart Association's stricter target, recommended especially for blood pressure management².
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Log sodium sources throughout the day using the quick-select dropdown or manual entry. We sum your running total and show it against both the 2,300 mg general limit and the 1,500 mg ideal limit, clearly labeled as two different reference points, not blended into one number.
Why the Stricter Target Exists, Not Just the General One
The case for the lower 1,500 mg target isn't theoretical. The DASH-Sodium trial, a landmark randomized controlled feeding study, tested three sodium levels combined with two different dietary patterns and found that reducing sodium intake lowered blood pressure at every level tested, with the largest reductions seen at the lowest sodium level combined with the DASH eating pattern³.
That trial is the direct evidence base behind AHA's stricter recommendation, it isn't just a more cautious guess, it's grounded in a controlled trial specifically designed to test what happens at different sodium levels.
A Note on Accuracy
Well over 80% of the U.S. population exceeds the 2,300 mg/day limit, most people's baseline intake is well above target before even accounting for less obvious sources, bread, sauces, and restaurant food account for the large majority of sodium intake, not the salt shaker. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the two sodium limits shown?
2,300 mg/day is the general Dietary Guidelines upper limit¹. 1,500 mg/day is the American Heart Association's stricter target, especially recommended for blood pressure management². Most adults would benefit from moving toward the lower figure even without diagnosed hypertension.
Is the 1,500 mg target based on real evidence?
Yes. The DASH-Sodium trial, a controlled feeding study, directly tested multiple sodium levels and found blood pressure improved at every step down, with the greatest benefit at the lowest level tested³.
Where does most sodium actually come from?
Mostly bread, sauces, processed foods, and restaurant meals, not the salt shaker at home. Most sodium in a typical diet is already baked into food before it reaches your plate.
Should I aim for a different target if I have a health condition?
Possibly. Sodium needs can differ for people with kidney disease, heart failure, or other conditions where a doctor may set a different target entirely, this tool reflects general population guidance only.
Sources
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, USDA & HHS
2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, American Heart Association, Circulation, 2021
Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, Sacks et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2001