Turn elevation change into a grade
Road Grade Percentage Calculator
Convert elevation gain or loss over horizontal map distance into grade percentage and degrees. Mixed units are supported, and the result explains why a corridor average must not be mistaken for its steepest segment.
Planning instrument
- Time
- Takes about 1 minute
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser
- Output
- Road grade
Your inputs
Enter the load details
Planning result
5.68% average grade
An elevation change of 600.0 ft over 10,560.0 horizontal ft is a 3.25° slope.
Grade5.68%
- Slope angle
- 3.25°
- Rise
- 600.0 ft
- Horizontal run
- 10,560.0 ft
What this means
- (600.0 ft ÷ 10,560.0 ft) × 100 = 5.68%.
Assumptions
- Run is horizontal map distance, not distance measured along the slope.
Check before dispatch
- Average grade can hide shorter, steeper sections. Use a road-snapped elevation profile for route decisions.
Worked example
See the calculation in plain English.
A 600 ft climb over 2 horizontal miles averages 5.68%, with a slope angle of about 3.25°.
What this tool does not decide
- An average across miles can hide a much steeper short segment.
- Elevation source resolution and road snapping affect accuracy.
Common questions
Use the result without guessing.
Is a 6% grade a 6-degree slope?
No. Percent grade is rise divided by run. A 6% grade is about 3.43 degrees.
Should I use road distance as the run?
Use horizontal map distance for the formula. Over ordinary road grades the difference is small, but the definitions are not identical.