Skip to content
ENExplore Calculators

Air Density At Altitude Calculator

Work out air density at altitude instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Air Density At Altitude Calculator

Air density follows from the barometric pressure at altitude divided by the gas constant times absolute temperature. At 1500 m and 10 C the pressure is 845 hPa and density 1.04 kg/m3, about 85% of sea level. Aircraft performance, engine power and aerodynamic drag all scale with this figure, which is why density altitude is what pilots actually use.

Formulas

Barometric pressure

P = 101325 (1 - 0.0065h / 288.15)^5.25588

Air density

rho = P / (287.058 x T in kelvin)

Worked example

With the default values below, Air Density At Altitude Calculator returns Air Density of 1.0403. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Altitude above sea levelminimum 0 m
1,500 m
Air temperature
10 C

Results

Air Density
1.0403 kg/m3
Atmospheric Pressure
845.56 hPa
Density Relative To Sea Level
0.8492
Density Altitude
1,670 m

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Barometric pressure
  3. 3Air density
  4. 4Air Density= 1.0403 kg/m3
  5. 5Atmospheric Pressure= 845.56 hPa
  6. 6Density Relative To Sea Level= 0.8492
  7. 7Density Altitude= 1,670 m

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do aircraft need longer runways in hot weather?

Because warm air is less dense, cutting both lift and engine thrust. A hot day at altitude can add hundreds of metres to take-off distance.

What is density altitude?

The altitude at which standard atmosphere would have the density you actually have - the figure that governs performance.

Related Calculators

Air Density At Altitude Calculator | Calcrivo