Tabular vs Vertical Nutrition Facts Format

The tall black-and-white panel everyone recognizes is the standard vertical format — and it's the default you must use unless your package physically can't fit it. The alternatives are keyed to package geometry, not preference.

Vertical: the default

If your package has room for it, the standard vertical display (21 CFR 101.9(d)) is required. "Room" has a concrete meaning: the vertical column needs roughly 3 inches of continuous vertical space to fit the panel down through the potassium line.

Tabular: for wide, short packages

When there isn't sufficient continuous vertical space (~3 inches), any package may use the tabular (horizontal) display (101.9(d)(11)(iii)) — think shallow tins, wide pouches, tubs. Same information, arranged in columns.

Small packages: 40 and 12 square inches

Two thresholds unlock further compression (101.9(j)(13)):

• ≤40 sq in of total labeling space: tabular or linear formats allowed with official abbreviations ("Serv size", "Sat fat", "Cholest", "Incl.") and the footnote reduced or dropped. The linear (single-paragraph) format is allowed only if even a tabular display won't fit.
• <12 sq in: fully exempt from nutrition labeling if you make no claims — you just provide an address or phone number for nutrition information. If you label anyway, everything may be set at 6 pt.

Simplified format: for "empty" foods

Separately, if your product contains insignificant amounts (roundable to zero) of 8 or more of the 15 core nutrients, you may use the simplified format showing only the nutrients present (101.9(f)). Bottled sweetened drinks are the classic case. Calories, total fat, total carbohydrate, protein, and sodium always stay.

Choosing in practice

Measure your label area before designing: jar lids and small pouches usually justify tabular; most bags and boxes require vertical. Our builder ships both standard vertical and tabular — switch between them in label settings and the preview redraws instantly.