How to use it
- Enter pressure altitude in feet.
- Enter outside air temperature in °C.
- Calculate the simplified density-altitude estimate.
Density Altitude Calculator
Apply a simplified temperature departure formula to pressure altitude.
Important: This calculator is an educational estimate only. It is not aviation, navigation, flight planning, fuel or reserve planning, aircraft or rocket design, certification, launch, propulsion, mission, weapon, maintenance, legal, regulatory, emergency, operational, or safety advice.
About the Density Altitude Calculator
Density altitude can be approximated by comparing entered outside temperature with an estimated ISA temperature.
Formula
Density altitude ≈ pressure altitude + 120 × (OAT − ISA temperature). ISA temperature is approximated as 15 − 1.98°C per 1,000 ft.
Example
At 5,000 ft and 25°C, estimated ISA temperature is about 5.1°C and the simplified density altitude is about 7,388 ft.
Notes
This approximation omits actual atmosphere observations and aircraft data. Do not use it for takeoff, landing, flight planning or operational decisions.