What is the Daily Value Based On? A Comprehensive Guide

October 31, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Percent Daily Value (%DV) on nutrition labels is primarily a guide for comparing nutrients based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, which serves as a general benchmark for nutrition advice. This reference point helps consumers understand how a single serving of a food product fits into a total daily diet and make informed dietary choices.

Quick Summary

The Daily Value is a standardized reference system for nutrient information on food labels, established by the FDA and primarily based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

Key Points

2,000-Calorie Standard: The Daily Value is primarily based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, serving as a benchmark for comparing nutrient levels, not a personal prescription.
Dual Reference System: The DV is made up of two parts: Daily Reference Values (DRVs) for macronutrients and Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) for vitamins and minerals, both developed by the FDA.
The 5/20 Rule: This rule helps interpret the %DV, where 5% or less indicates a low amount of a nutrient and 20% or more indicates a high amount.
Differs from RDA: The DV is a generalized value for the public, while the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is a more specific recommendation based on age and gender.
FDA's Role: The FDA develops and updates the Daily Values to ensure they reflect current scientific evidence and provide relevant guidance to consumers, as seen in the 2016 label revisions.

The Foundation of the Daily Value: A 2,000-Calorie Standard

The Daily Value (DV) represents reference amounts for nutrients to consume or not to exceed daily. The FDA established the DV based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, which serves as a general guide for the average adult's energy needs. This standard allows consumers to compare the nutrient content of different foods in the context of a total daily diet. It is important to note that this is a benchmark and not personalized dietary advice, as individual calorie needs vary.

The Two Pillars of Daily Value

The Daily Value comprises two sets of reference values developed by the FDA. These are:

Daily Reference Values (DRVs): Used for macronutrients like fat, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, as well as sodium and cholesterol. For instance, the DV for total fat is 78 grams based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs): Set for vitamins and minerals, based on the broader Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) which consider life stage and gender. The FDA uses the highest RDA from various groups to create a single RDI for a nutrient on food labels, simplifying the DV.

Deciphering the Percent Daily Value (%DV)

The Percent Daily Value (%DV) on the Nutrition Facts label shows the percentage of the DV for each nutrient in a single serving. This helps consumers quickly gauge a food's contribution to their daily diet without complex calculations.

The %DV is calculated by dividing the amount of a nutrient per serving by its Daily Value and multiplying by 100. For example, if a serving has 26 grams of carbohydrate and the DV is 275 grams, the %DV is approximately 9%.

A helpful tool for interpreting the %DV is the 5/20 Rule:

5% DV or less suggests a food is low in that nutrient, which is desirable for nutrients like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
20% DV or more indicates a food is high in that nutrient, which is beneficial for nutrients like fiber and certain vitamins and minerals.

Comparison of Key Nutrient Reference Values

The Daily Value differs from other nutrient recommendations like the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and the broader system of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs).


Feature	Daily Value (DV)	Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)	Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)
Purpose	A single, standardized value for food labels to promote comparison across products for the general population.	The average daily intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals within specific life stages and genders.	The overarching system of nutrient recommendations, which includes RDA, AI, EAR, and UL, set by the National Academy of Medicine.
Basis	Combines DRVs and RDIs, based on a 2,000-calorie diet and often derived from the highest RDA for a general population group (adults and children 4+).	Based on an Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), providing a margin of safety to cover the needs of almost all healthy people.	Based on a comprehensive review of scientific evidence and tailored to specific age, gender, and life stage groups.
Specificity	Non-specific; a universal reference for the general public (4 years and older).	Highly specific; recommendations differ by age, gender, and life stage (e.g., pregnancy, lactation).	Highly specific; provides reference values for 22 distinct life stage and gender groups.
Label Use	Displayed on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels as a %DV.	Typically not shown on food labels.	Not used on food labels, but the RDIs (a component) are used as the basis for the DVs.

Evolution and Updates of the Daily Value

Recognizing the need for updated guidance, the FDA revised the Nutrition Facts label in 2016. This update incorporated current scientific data, leading to changes in Daily Values for several nutrients. Notably, Added Sugars were included with a new DV, and existing DVs for nutrients like calcium were increased. The units for certain vitamins, such as Vitamin D, were also updated.

How to Effectively Use the Daily Value

The DV is a practical tool for making informed food choices. Consider these tips:

Compare Food Products: Use the %DV to compare similar foods to choose options lower in undesirable nutrients (like saturated fat) and higher in beneficial ones (like fiber).
Balance Your Diet: The %DV helps you track your intake throughout the day, allowing you to make trade-offs between foods.
Apply the 5/20 Rule: Quickly identify foods that are significant sources of nutrients you want more or less of.
Check Serving Sizes: Remember that the %DV is per serving, so adjust your understanding if you eat more than one serving.

Conclusion

The Daily Value, primarily rooted in a 2,000-calorie diet and comprising DRVs and RDIs, is a standardized tool on food labels. It provides a consistent reference point for consumers to compare nutrient levels in foods, aiding in healthier dietary decisions. The %DV and the 5/20 Rule simplify nutritional information, helping individuals manage their intake of various nutrients for better health.

For more detailed information, consult the FDA's guide on understanding and using the Nutrition Facts Label: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2,000-calorie diet was selected by the FDA as a general guideline because it represents the energy needs of an average adult. This standardized benchmark provides a consistent point of comparison for consumers to understand and evaluate the nutritional content of different food products.

The Daily Value (DV) is the actual reference amount of a nutrient you should aim to get (or stay below) each day, expressed in grams or milligrams. The Percent Daily Value (%DV) is the percentage of that daily amount found in one serving of a food product, making it easy to see its contribution to your overall diet.

No, the 2,000-calorie diet is a benchmark, not a target for everyone. Individual calorie needs vary based on age, sex, weight, height, and physical activity level. However, even if your needs differ, you can still use the %DV to compare foods and choose items that are high or low in specific nutrients.

The DV is a single term that includes both DRVs and RDIs. DRVs are for macronutrients and other components like fat, fiber, and sodium. RDIs are for vitamins and minerals. Both are used to calculate the %DV on food labels.

The FDA provides a simple 5/20 Rule for this. A food is considered low in a nutrient if it has 5% DV or less per serving. It is considered high if it has 20% DV or more per serving. You should choose more foods high in nutrients like fiber and calcium, and fewer foods high in sodium and saturated fat.

In 2016, the FDA updated the Nutrition Facts label to incorporate more current nutritional science. The changes included adding Added Sugars and updating the DVs for nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium to reflect newer data.

The RDA, set by the National Academies, is a more precise, gender- and age-specific intake recommendation for individuals. The DV, set by the FDA, is a simplified, generalized value used on food labels for the wider population (adults and children 4+), primarily for comparison.