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Elevation Difference Calculator

Calculate elevation difference and the gradient it implies.

About Elevation Difference Calculator

Gradient is the ratio of rise to horizontal run, expressed either as a percentage or an angle. The two diverge above about ten per cent, where a 100 per cent gradient is 45 degrees rather than vertical. Cycling and hiking grades are quoted as percentages, and anything sustained above ten per cent is hard work regardless of fitness.

Formula

Elevation Difference

Gradient = elevation difference ÷ horizontal distance × 100

gradient per cent
Vertical rise as a percentage of horizontal distance
gradient in degrees
The arctangent of the same ratio

Worked example

With the default values below, Elevation Difference Calculator returns Elevation Difference of 1,520.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Start elevationaccepts -500–9,000 m
320 m
End elevationaccepts -500–9,000 m
1,840 m
Horizontal distanceminimum 0.001 km
12 km

Results

Elevation Difference
1,520.0 m
Average Gradient
12.667%
Average Gradient
7.219 degrees
Elevation Difference
4,986.9 ft
Difficulty Band
Very steep

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Elevation Difference
  3. 3Elevation Difference= 1,520.0 m
  4. 4Average Gradient= 12.667
  5. 5Average Gradient= 7.219 degrees
  6. 6Elevation Difference= 4,986.9 ft
  7. 7Difficulty Band= Very steep

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 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

How is Elevation Difference calculated?

Gradient = elevation difference ÷ horizontal distance × 100 Gradient is the ratio of rise to horizontal run, expressed either as a percentage or an angle. The two diverge above about ten per cent, where a 100 per cent gradient is 45 degrees rather than vertical.

Why does Elevation Difference matter?

Cycling and hiking grades are quoted as percentages, and anything sustained above ten per cent is hard work regardless of fitness.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 3 inputs: Start elevation, End elevation, Horizontal distance. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.

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