How they differ on a label
Sodium is the headline number on almost every electrolyte product and carries the widest range across our database. Potassium is usually declared next and at a smaller figure. Magnesium is smaller again, and calcium and chloride appear only on some labels.
That hierarchy is a formulation convention, not a rule, so a product declaring high magnesium and modest sodium is a different design rather than a mistake. What matters is reading the declared figures per serving instead of assuming a product contains a mineral because the packaging mentions electrolytes.
| Mineral | How it is declared | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | Milligrams per serving, usually first on the panel | The single biggest difference between products; check it against the serving size |
| Potassium | Milligrams per serving, typically a smaller figure than sodium | Whether it is declared at all, and at what level relative to sodium |
| Magnesium | Milligrams per serving, typically the smallest of the three | Declared or not declared; the form used appears in the ingredients |
| Calcium and chloride | Milligrams per serving where declared | Only some labels declare them, which is why we count declared minerals out of five |
Why sodium leads the panel
Sodium is the mineral lost in the largest quantity in sweat, which is why it is the variable product ranges are built around and the one people search on. Potassium and magnesium are lost in much smaller quantities, so products declare them at correspondingly smaller figures.
This is general information about labelling, not medical or dietary advice. We do not tell you how much of any mineral you personally need.
Comparing mineral coverage
Because labels differ in how many minerals they declare, we count declared electrolytes out of five on every product page. More declared minerals is not automatically better — a five-mineral panel with a tiny sodium figure and a two-mineral panel built around sodium answer different needs.
Use the database to sort on the mineral you actually care about, and the comparison tool when two candidates look similar.
In the guide
Category pages
Side-by-side comparisons
Data and method
General information disclaimer
This page is general information about product labelling and nutrition, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Individual needs vary. Consult a qualified health professional about your own hydration, sodium intake or medical conditions.