U.S. · Food labeling · 21 CFR 101.9
Nutrition Facts rounding rules.
21 CFR 101.9(c) sets the rounding increment and the zero threshold for each nutrient. Enter an unrounded amount and see how the section says to declare it.
21 CFR 101.9(c) sets a different rounding rule for each nutrient: calories go to the nearest 5 up to and including 50 and the nearest 10 above 50 (under 5 may be zero); fat, saturated fat and trans fat go to the nearest 0.5 gram below 5 grams and the nearest gram above (under 0.5 gram is zero); cholesterol goes to the nearest 5 milligrams; sodium is zero under 5 mg, nearest 5 mg from 5 to 140 mg, and nearest 10 mg above 140; carbohydrate, fiber, sugars and protein go to the nearest gram.
Round an amount per serving
Result
What 21 CFR 101.9(c) covers
Section 101.9 is the FDA's nutrition labeling rule for food. Paragraph (c) lists the nutrients that go on the Nutrition Facts label and, for each one, how the number must be expressed. The rounding rules sit inside those nutrient-by-nutrient statements rather than in one table, which is why label writers often miss one. The text on this page is the eCFR version current through October 29, 2026. It is the printed rule, not FDA guidance or a compliance opinion.
Two ideas run through the paragraph. The first is an increment: the declared number is the amount rounded to the nearest step. The second is a floor below which the label says zero (or, for some nutrients, allows a "less than" phrase). Both vary by nutrient, so there is no single rounding habit that works for the whole panel.
The increments, nutrient by nutrient
| Nutrient | What the section says | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | Nearest 5-calorie increment up to and including 50 calories, nearest 10-calorie increment above 50; amounts under 5 calories may be expressed as zero | (c)(1) |
| Total fat; saturated, trans, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated fat | Nearest 0.5 gram below 5 grams, nearest gram above 5 grams; under 0.5 gram is expressed as zero | (c)(2) and its subparagraphs |
| Cholesterol | Nearest 5 milligrams; under 2 mg may be stated as zero (or not declared if no fat, fatty acid or cholesterol claim); 2 to 5 mg may be stated as "less than 5 milligrams" | (c)(3) |
| Sodium | Zero under 5 mg; nearest 5 mg from 5 to 140 mg; nearest 10 mg above 140 mg | (c)(4) |
| Total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, sugar alcohol, protein | Nearest gram; under 1 gram the alternative "Contains less than 1 gram" or "less than 1 gram" may be used; under 0.5 gram may be expressed as zero | (c)(6), (c)(7) |
| Vitamins and minerals (percent of the Daily Value) | Nearest 2 percent up to and including 10 percent, nearest 5 percent above 10 up to and including 50 percent, nearest 10 percent above 50 percent; under 2 percent need not be declared | (c)(8)(iii) |
| Percent Daily Value column | Nearest whole percent, calculated by dividing either the declared amount or the actual amount (before rounding) by the Daily Reference Value | (d)(7)(ii) |
Fluoride, when declared voluntarily, has its own steps in (c)(5): zero under 0.1 mg, nearest 0.1 mg up to and including 0.8 mg, and nearest 0.2 mg above that.
Round the actual number, once
The section repeatedly refers to the "actual amount." For calories it says that where specific or general food factors are used, "the factors shall be applied to the actual amount (i.e., before rounding) of food components." So the order of work is: measure or compute each component to full precision, apply the calorie factors to those full-precision numbers, and only then round each declared line. Rounding fat to 2.5 grams first and multiplying by nine would not follow that sentence. The same idea shows up in (d)(7)(ii), which lets the percent Daily Value be calculated from either the declared amount or the actual amount before rounding.
Worked examples
- Calories. 47 calories is in the "nearest 5" band, so it is declared as 45. 53 calories is in the "nearest 10" band and becomes 50. 3 calories may be shown as zero.
- Fat. 2.3 grams is below 5, so the nearest 0.5 gram gives 2.5. 6.4 grams is above 5, so the nearest gram gives 6. 0.4 gram is under 0.5 and is expressed as zero.
- Sodium. 137 mg falls in the 5 to 140 band, so nearest 5 gives 135. 146 mg is above 140, so nearest 10 gives 150. 4 mg is expressed as zero.
- Cholesterol. 13 mg rounds to 15. 3 mg is in the 2 to 5 mg range, so the text allows "less than 5 milligrams."
- Carbohydrate. 12.6 grams is declared as 13. 0.7 gram can be written as 1 gram, as "less than 1 gram," or (only under 0.5 gram) as zero.
- Vitamins and minerals. 8 percent stays 8; 12 percent rounds to 10; 13 percent rounds to 15; 57 percent rounds to 60.
Serving size and servings per container
Rounding also applies outside the nutrient list. Paragraph (b)(7) says the metric quantity after a household measure should be rounded to the nearest whole number, except below 5 grams (or milliliters): between 2 and 5 it goes to the nearest 0.5, and under 2 it is expressed in 0.1 steps. Ounce equivalents in parentheses use 0.1 oz increments. When a serving size falls exactly halfway between two allowed household sizes, such as 2.5 tablespoons, paragraph (b)(5)(ix) says to round up to the next incremental size. For servings per container, the number is rounded to the nearest whole number, except between 2 and 5 servings, where the nearest 0.5 is used and the label should show the rounding with the word "about."
Exact halfway values
The calculator above flags an amount that falls exactly halfway between two increments, such as 55 calories (halfway between 50 and 60) or 2.25 grams of fat. The text printed in 101.9(c) says "to the nearest" increment but does not say which way a true tie goes for those nutrients, and this page does not invent a rule. If a product's data lands exactly on a midpoint, check the rule text and FDA before choosing a direction. Only the serving size paragraph states a tie rule, and only for household measures.
What this page does not do
It does not decide which nutrients your product must declare, whether a simplified format applies, how to compute Daily Values, or whether a claim on the package is permitted. It applies only the rounding sentences quoted above. Verify the source text, and confirm any real label with FDA or a qualified food labeling professional.
Sources
Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How are calories rounded on the Nutrition Facts label?
To the nearest 5-calorie increment up to and including 50 calories and the nearest 10-calorie increment above 50; amounts under 5 calories may be expressed as zero (21 CFR 101.9(c)(1)).
How is sodium rounded?
Expressed as zero when the serving has under 5 mg, to the nearest 5 mg from 5 to 140 mg, and to the nearest 10 mg above 140 mg (101.9(c)(4)).
How are fat and saturated fat rounded?
To the nearest 0.5 gram below 5 grams and the nearest gram above 5 grams; under 0.5 gram is expressed as zero (101.9(c)(2) and subparagraphs).
How is cholesterol rounded?
To the nearest 5 milligrams. Under 2 mg may be stated as zero, and 2 to 5 mg may be stated as "less than 5 milligrams" (101.9(c)(3)).
Do I calculate calories from the rounded fat and carbohydrate numbers?
The section says food factors are applied to the actual amount, meaning before rounding, of the food components (101.9(c)(1)(i)).
What does the section say about a value exactly halfway between two increments?
The nutrient paragraphs say "nearest" and print no tie rule. Only serving size for household measures states one: a size exactly halfway is rounded up (101.9(b)(5)(ix)).
Is this FDA guidance or legal advice?
No. It reports the printed rule text. Check the current regulation and ask FDA or a qualified professional about a real label.
Not legal or compliance advice
This page is general information drawn from the sources listed, not legal, tax or compliance advice, and it is not run by any government agency. Rules, forms and dates change and your agency, base jurisdiction or enforcement officer decides your case, so confirm with the office named on this page before you rely on it. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.