Angle of Elevation Calculator
Find the angle of elevation from horizontal distance and height above eye level.
Inputs
Vertical distance to the object.
Ground-level distance to the base.
Angle of Elevation
26.5651°
Line-of-sight distance
111.8034
Step by step
Apply arctan
arctan(height/distance) = arctan(50/100)
= 26.56505118°
Line-of-sight distance
√(50² + 100²)
= 111.80339887
How it works
The angle of elevation is the angle between the horizontal and the line of sight looking upward to an object. It is found using tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent = height/distance.
Formula
Angle of Elevation
θ = arctan(height / distance)
- h
- Height above eye level
- d
- Horizontal distance
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you use angle of elevation?
Whenever you look UP from horizontal — measuring building heights, incline of a ramp, spotting aircraft, etc.
How is elevation different from depression?
Elevation looks up from horizontal; depression looks down from horizontal. They use the same formula but with height above or below eye level.