Percent Elevation Grade Calculator

Grade Formula:

\[ \text{Grade} = \left( \frac{\text{Elevation Change}}{\text{Distance}} \right) \times 100 \]

Grade Percentage (%):

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1. What is a Percent Elevation Grade Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the percent grade (slope) between two points based on elevation change and horizontal distance.

Purpose: It helps engineers, surveyors, hikers, and construction professionals calculate slope steepness for various applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ \text{Grade} = \left( \frac{\text{Elevation Change}}{\text{Distance}} \right) \times 100 \]

Where:

Grade — Slope percentage (%)
Elevation Change — Vertical difference (meters)
Distance — Horizontal distance (meters)

Explanation: The elevation change is divided by the horizontal distance, then multiplied by 100 to convert to a percentage.

3. Importance of Grade Calculation

Details: Proper grade calculation is essential for road construction, trail building, drainage planning, and accessibility compliance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the elevation change and horizontal distance in meters. Both values must be positive numbers, and distance cannot be zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a 10% grade mean?
A: A 10% grade means the elevation changes 10 meters for every 100 meters of horizontal distance.

Q2: How does this differ from angle in degrees?
A: Percent grade is rise over run (tangent), while degrees measure the actual angle. 45° = 100% grade.

Q3: What's considered a steep grade?
A: Generally, above 10% is steep for vehicles, above 30% is steep for hiking.

Q4: Can I use feet instead of meters?
A: Yes, as long as both elevation and distance use the same units.

Q5: What's the maximum possible grade percentage?
A: There's no maximum, but 100% grade = 45° angle, and vertical cliffs approach infinite grade.