What the %DV Is
The % Daily Value (%DV) on a Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts label tells you how much one serving contributes to a day's worth of a nutrient, using reference amounts (the Daily Values) set by the FDA [1]. Those Daily Values are based on a general 2,000-calorie reference diet — a single yardstick for everyone, not a personalized target.
The Quick 5/20 Rule
A handy reading shortcut:
- 5% DV or less = a low source of that nutrient
- 20% DV or more = a high source
This lets you compare products at a glance without doing math.
%DV Is Not Your RDA
This is the common confusion. The Daily Value is a single labeling reference; the RDA/AI is the intake recommendation that varies by age and sex (see RDA vs AI vs UL). They're often close but not identical, and for some nutrients the DV differs noticeably from what a specific person needs. So '100% DV' means 'a full reference day's worth on the label,' not 'exactly what you personally require.'
Where %DV Is Missing
Not every ingredient has a %DV. When a dietary ingredient has no established Daily Value (many botanicals, amino acids, and probiotics), the label shows a dagger (†) instead (see Supplement Facts Labels). That's not a quality signal — it just means no reference value exists.
Using %DV Wisely
- Use it to compare products and spot 'high' vs 'low' quickly.
- Add up %DV across all your supplements and fortified foods to avoid unintentionally overshooting (especially for nutrients with an [upper limit](/learn/upper-intake-levels-explained)).
- Don't treat %DV as a personalized prescription — your needs depend on age, sex, and health status.