Boiling Point at Elevation Calculator
Enter an elevation to see the temperature water boils at there. At sea level it is 212 °F (100 °C); higher up it is lower.
Water boils at
—°F
— °C
Air pressure: —
Standard-atmosphere estimate for plain water in an open pot. Sources below.
What this means for cooking
Food simmered in boiling water cooks more slowly as the boiling point drops, because the water is not as hot. USDA says most cookbooks treat 3,000 ft and above as high altitude, and notes that at 2,000 ft water already boils at 208 °F instead of 212 °F (this calculator gives 208.4 °F there). Expect pasta, rice, beans and boiled eggs to need more time, and use a food thermometer for meat.
Food safety: follow USDA guidance on high-altitude cooking. This calculator gives the boiling temperature only; it is not a recipe or canning process.
Boiling point of water by elevation
| Elevation | Boils at (°F) | Boils at (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ft (0 m) | 212.0 | 100.0 |
| 1,000 ft (305 m) | 210.2 | 99.0 |
| 2,000 ft (610 m) | 208.4 | 98.0 |
| 3,000 ft (914 m) | 206.5 | 97.0 |
| 4,000 ft (1,219 m) | 204.7 | 96.0 |
| 5,000 ft (1,524 m) | 202.9 | 94.9 |
| 5,280 ft (1,609 m) (one mile) | 202.4 | 94.7 |
| 6,000 ft (1,829 m) | 201.1 | 93.9 |
| 7,000 ft (2,134 m) | 199.3 | 92.9 |
| 8,000 ft (2,438 m) | 197.4 | 91.9 |
| 9,000 ft (2,743 m) | 195.6 | 90.9 |
| 10,000 ft (3,048 m) | 193.8 | 89.9 |
| 12,000 ft (3,658 m) | 190.1 | 87.8 |
| 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 186.4 | 85.8 |
How it is calculated
- Air pressure at the elevation from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976: P = 101.325 kPa × (1 − 2.25577 × 10⁻⁵ × h)5.25588, with h in meters.
- Boiling point from the Antoine equation for water: T = 1730.63 / (8.07131 − log₁₀ P) − 233.426, with P in mmHg and T in °C.
- °F = °C × 9/5 + 32.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Why does water boil at a lower temperature at high altitude?
Water boils when its vapor pressure equals the air pressure around it. Higher up there is less air pressing down, so water reaches that point at a lower temperature.
At what elevation does water boil at 200 °F?
At about 6,600 ft, using standard-atmosphere air pressure. The table on this page lists the boiling point every 1,000 ft.
Does lower boiling temperature mean food cooks faster?
No, slower. Food in boiling water is cooked by water that is not as hot as at sea level, so it takes longer. USDA notes that cooking times must be increased at high altitude.
Does weather change the boiling point?
Yes, a little. The calculator uses standard-atmosphere pressure for your elevation. On a low-pressure stormy day water boils slightly cooler; on a high-pressure day slightly hotter.
What about salt water or a pressure cooker?
This calculator is for plain water in an open pot. Dissolved salt raises the boiling point slightly, and a pressure cooker raises it a lot by increasing the pressure inside.
Sources
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 — air pressure at each elevation
- Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry constants) — boiling point from pressure; NIST lists vapor-pressure data for water
- USDA FSIS: High Altitude Cooking — boiling point at 2,000 ft and cooking-time guidance
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.