# Tabular Nutrition Facts Label

The panel laid out wide, in columns, instead of tall.

You may use it when the tallest open space for the panel is under about 3 inches, so a vertical panel does not fit.

**URL:** https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/tabular/
**Provider:** BetterMenu (https://bettermenu.live)
**Rule:** Allowed when the panel space is under about 3 in tall. [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii))
**Source:** FDA 21 CFR 101.9, eCFR as of 2026-02-12
**In BetterMenu Studio:** Studio works out the per-serving and per-package numbers from your recipe today. It exports the standard vertical panel. Tabular export is not available yet. Studio gives the per-serving and per-package numbers, and your designer sets them in the tabular layout.

These pages are for conventional foods and drinks, not dietary supplements or medical foods.

## Do I need this?

Allowed if the tallest open space for the panel is under about 3 inches.

The page asks one question at a time, only while the answer can still change the result:

- How much of the package can carry printing? (Under 12 sq in / 12 to 40 sq in / Over 40 sq in) Add up every side you can print on, in square inches. See “How to measure”.
- Does it make nutrition claims or show nutrition information anywhere? (Yes / No) Including the website or ads.
- How tall is the tallest open space for the panel? (Under about 3 in / About 3 in or more) One unbroken space, measured top to bottom.
- Does a vertical panel fit on any side? (Yes / No) Its shape or size, on any label panel. If not, a tabular panel may fit.
- Does a regular tabular panel fit on any side? (Yes / No) If not, the small-package tabular or linear label is allowed.

Decision rules, from the same logic as the page:

- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” or “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “Under about 3 in”, then: You may use this format.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “No” and panel height is “About 3 in or more”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package exemption.
- If vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “Under about 3 in”, then: You may use this format.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more”, then: Not this format. Use Standard vertical.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “Yes”, then: You may use this format.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more”, then: Not this format. Use Standard vertical.

Next steps once it applies: Send your designer the tabular sample and the spec below. At 200% to 300% of the reference amount, see Tabular dual column.

## How to measure your package

1. Find the tallest open space for the panel: one unbroken area, measured top to bottom. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))
2. Under about 3 in, a tabular panel is allowed. About 3 in or more, use a vertical panel. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))
3. The 3 in is the height a vertical panel needs from its heading down to the potassium line. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))

Example: A chocolate bar wrapper is 6 in wide and its back panel is 2.5 in tall. 2.5 in is under about 3 in, so a vertical panel does not fit and the tabular panel is allowed.

## How it differs from standard vertical

The heading, serving size and calories sit in a block on the left. Nutrients run in two columns beside it. In FDA’s sample, the footnote has its own column on the right.

1. Footnote in its own column (from FDA’s sample label, printed in [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))
2. Heading and calories on the left (from FDA’s sample label, printed in [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))
3. Nutrients in two columns (from FDA’s sample label, printed in [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))

## Tabular dual column

When a package needs a per-package or per-unit column and only a tabular panel fits, the tabular panel carries both columns. FDA shows this in its own sample label.

Sources: [21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(e)(6)), [21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(e)(6)(ii))

## FDA sample label

- Tabular format: printed in [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)), published at 88 FR 17710 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/24/2023-05418/food-labeling-infant-formula-requirements-food-additives-and-generally-recognized-as-safe-substances). The values on FDA's sample are illustrative.
- Tabular dual column: printed in [21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(e)(6)(ii)), published at 83 FR 65493 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/21/2018-27431/food-labeling-revision-of-the-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels-technical-amendments). The values on FDA's sample are illustrative.

## For your designer

Space: Wide and short. It fits under about 3 in of height.

| Part | Value | Source | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nutrient rows | 8 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| “Calories” | 10 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| Calorie number | 22 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| Servings per container | 10 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(i)) |
| Serving size line | 9 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(ii)) |
| “Nutrition Facts” heading | Need not run the full width of the panel | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(2)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(2)) |
| Bar under the heading block | About 3.5 pt | From FDA’s sample | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)) |
| Nutrient column heading | “Amount/serving” | From FDA’s sample | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)) |
| “% Daily Value*” and the footnote | 6 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| Bold | “Nutrition Facts”, “Serving size”, “Amount per serving”, “% Daily Value*”, the names of nutrients that are not indented and the %DV figures. The calorie number and the serving size line are bold too. Servings per container is not. | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iv)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iv)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(ii)) |

“From FDA’s sample” means the value was measured from FDA’s sample label, not stated in the rule text. “BetterMenu’s choice” is our own value where the rule text is silent.

- Download FDA’s sample label, Tabular format: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/fda/er24mr23.011.png
- Download FDA’s sample label, Tabular dual column: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/fda/er21de18.013.png

## Common mistakes

- Using tabular when a vertical panel fits. Tabular is allowed only without about 3 in of unbroken height. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii)))
- On a package over 40 sq in, using the small-package short names on a regular tabular panel. Those are for packages of 40 sq in or less. ([21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)))
- Dropping the second column on a package that needs a dual column. Use the tabular dual column instead. ([21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(e)(6)(ii)))

## Example: A 4 oz bar of chocolate

The back of the wrapper is 6 in wide and only 2.5 in tall, about 30 sq in front and back. A vertical panel does not fit on either face, and a tabular panel does, so the tabular panel is allowed. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(iii))) An invented product, for illustration.

## Related formats

- [Small-package tabular](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/small-package-tabular/)
- [Linear](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/linear/)
- [Dual column](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/dual-column/)

## Rule text

> “If there is not sufficient continuous vertical space (i.e., approximately 3 in) to accommodate the required components of the nutrition label up to and including the mandatory declaration of potassium, the nutrition label may be presented in a tabular display as shown in the following sample label.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “The following sample label illustrates the provisions of paragraphs (b)(2)(i)(D) and (b)(12)(i) of this section for labels that use the tabular display.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(ii), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

## Frequently asked questions

### When can I use a tabular Nutrition Facts label?

When there is not enough continuous vertical space for the panel, about 3 inches, up to and including potassium.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii)

### Is tabular the same as the small-package tabular label?

No. The small-package tabular label is for packages under 12 square inches, or up to 40 square inches when no vertical or tabular panel fits on any side. Any panel on a package that size may use every short name on FDA’s list, such as “Sat fat”. On a package over 40 sq in, a regular tabular panel may use only “Total carb.” and “Incl.”, and only as a tabular dual column.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(A)(1), 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)

### Can a tabular label have two columns?

Yes. A package that needs a per-package or per-unit column can show both columns in a tabular panel.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(ii)

### What is the minimum font size for a tabular label?

Nutrient rows 8 pt, “Calories” 10 pt and its number 22 pt, the serving size line 9 pt, and servings per container 10 pt.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii), 21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii), 21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(i)

## Machine-readable data

This page as JSON: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/tabular/data.json
Every format: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/data.json