Elevation Grade Calculator In Feet

Elevation Grade Formula:

\[ \text{Grade} = \left( \frac{\text{Rise}}{\text{Run}} \right) \times 100 \]

Grade:

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1. What is Elevation Grade?

Elevation grade (or slope) is the measure of steepness or incline between two points, expressed as a percentage. It represents the ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the elevation grade formula:

\[ \text{Grade} = \left( \frac{\text{Rise}}{\text{Run}} \right) \times 100 \]

Where:

\( Rise \) — Vertical elevation change (feet)
\( Run \) — Horizontal distance (feet)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the horizontal distance the elevation rises.

3. Importance of Grade Calculation

Details: Grade calculation is essential in construction, road design, landscaping, hiking trail planning, and wheelchair ramp design to ensure safety and accessibility.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both rise and run in feet. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the grade percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a steep grade?
A: Generally, grades above 15% are considered steep. For roads, 6-10% is typical, while wheelchair ramps should be ≤8.33%.

Q2: How does grade differ from angle?
A: Grade is a percentage (rise/run × 100), while angle is measured in degrees (arctan(rise/run)).

Q3: What's the maximum possible grade?
A: Theoretically 100% (45° angle where rise equals run). In practice, grades rarely exceed 30% for most applications.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides precise calculations based on your input measurements. Accuracy depends on how precisely you measure rise and run.

Q5: Can I use this for metric measurements?
A: The calculator works with any consistent units (both rise and run must be in feet here), but the result will be the same percentage regardless of units.