Elevation Grade Calculator

Find the grade (slope percentage) of a hill or road from rise and run.

Inputs

Rise (elevation change)

Run (horizontal distance)

Use the same units for rise and run.

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Saved Scenarios

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Grade

5.00%

Spark says

How it's calculated

Formula

Grade\% = \dfrac{Rise}{Run} \times 100

Rise: — Vertical elevation change
Run: — Horizontal distance covered

What is the Elevation Grade Calculator?

Grade (or slope percentage) expresses steepness as rise divided by run — a 5% grade means the surface climbs 5 units of elevation for every 100 units of horizontal distance traveled.

How to use it

1 Enter the vertical rise.
2 Enter the horizontal run, in the same units as rise.

Worked examples

50 ft rise over 1,000 ft run

A 5% grade.

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Frequently asked questions

What grade is considered steep for a road?

Most highways stay under 6-7% grade; grades over 10% are considered quite steep and are more common on mountain roads or driveways than public highways.