Most adults should aim for no more than about 1,500–2,300 mg of sodium per day, which is roughly three‑quarters to one teaspoon of table salt in total from all foods.

Core daily sodium target

  • For generally healthy adults, major health organizations recommend staying under 2,300 mg of sodium per day to help reduce long‑term risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
  • An even better goal for most adults—especially if you care about heart health—is around 1,500 mg per day if you can reasonably get there.

When you might need less

  • If you already have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, many doctors suggest aiming closer to 1,500 mg per day unless your own clinician tells you otherwise.
  • Children and teens should generally have less than adults; global guidelines suggest adjusting under-2,000 mg per day downward based on their smaller energy needs.

Can you get too little?

  • The body technically needs under 500 mg of sodium per day to function (far less than most people eat), and true deficiency from normal food intake is rare.
  • For most people, there is no strong evidence that going below 1,500 mg per day is harmful, but such low intakes are uncommon without very deliberate restriction.

How much people actually eat

  • Worldwide, adults on average consume over 4,000 mg of sodium per day—more than double the recommended limit.
  • In the U.S., typical intake is around 3,300–3,400 mg daily, much of it from processed and restaurant foods rather than the salt shaker.

Quick practical tips

  • Aim to cook more at home, choose “low sodium” or “no salt added” versions of staples (soups, sauces, canned beans), and taste food before adding extra salt.
  • If you want a simple starting point, try cutting about 1,000 mg per day from whatever you’re eating now; even that level of reduction can improve blood pressure and heart health.

TL;DR: A good personal target for “how much sodium should I have a day” is:

  • Under 2,300 mg for most adults,
  • Around 1,500 mg if you have, or are trying hard to prevent, blood pressure and heart issues—always confirming with your own health care professional.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.