How this calculator works
WHO's food-guidance convention treats 1 g ordinary salt as approximately 400 mg sodium. It is rounded, not an exact molecular calculation. Crystal size affects spoon volume, so this tool uses mass. Sea, kosher and pink salts should use the label if precision matters. Potassium-based blends require the product's sodium fraction; pure potassium chloride contains no sodium. Composition arithmetic does not establish suitability of salt substitutes for a person with kidney disease or relevant medicines. The result is an estimate for information only and is not medical advice.
Formula
Sodium mass = salt mass x sodium fraction. Ordinary-salt approximation: sodium g = salt g / 2.5. Reverse: salt mass = sodium mass / fraction.
Worked example
5 g ordinary salt corresponds to approximately 2000 mg sodium. With a product containing 20% sodium by mass, 5 g provides 1000 mg sodium.
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Frequently asked questions
Are sea salt and table salt sodium-free alternatives?
No. Both usually contain substantial sodium; read product information for the actual composition.
Why not use teaspoons?
Equal spoon volumes can contain different salt masses because crystals pack differently.
Can zero sodium identify the amount of pure potassium salt?
No. Any mass of pure potassium chloride has zero sodium, so the reverse problem has no unique answer.