Temperature at Altitude Calculator
Enter a temperature you know and where it was measured, then the elevation you are heading to. We estimate the temperature there.
Known temperature
Estimated temperature
—°F
— °C
Estimate from a constant lapse rate. Weather, sun and inversions change real temperatures.
Standard-atmosphere temperature by elevation
Starting from 59 °F (15 °C) at sea level.
| Elevation | °F | °C |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ft | 59.0 | 15.0 |
| 2,000 ft | 51.9 | 11.0 |
| 4,000 ft | 44.7 | 7.1 |
| 5,280 ft | 40.2 | 4.5 |
| 6,000 ft | 37.6 | 3.1 |
| 8,000 ft | 30.5 | -0.8 |
| 10,000 ft | 23.3 | -4.8 |
| 12,000 ft | 16.2 | -8.8 |
| 14,000 ft | 9.1 | -12.7 |
| 20,000 ft | -12.3 | -24.6 |
| 29,032 ft (Everest) | -44.5 | -42.5 |
How it is calculated
T(target) = T(known) − lapse rate × (target elevation − known elevation). The standard lapse rate is 6.5 °C per kilometer (U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976); the dry adiabatic rate is about 9.8 °C per kilometer, which the National Weather Service rounds to 10 °C per kilometer. Going downhill the formula warms the air by the same rate.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
How much colder is it higher up?
In the standard atmosphere temperature falls about 3.6 °F per 1,000 ft (6.5 °C per km). Dry air rising quickly cools faster, about 5.4 °F per 1,000 ft (9.8 °C per km). Real days vary with weather.
Which lapse rate should I pick?
Standard is a good everyday average. Dry adiabatic suits sunny, dry afternoons with strong mixing, such as a desert or a dry mountain day. Neither predicts inversions, when cold air pools in valleys and it is warmer higher up.
Can I use this as a mountain forecast?
Use it as a rough guide only. Wind, cloud, sun and inversions change summit temperatures; check a point forecast from the National Weather Service before a climb.
What is the standard temperature at sea level?
59 °F (15 °C) in the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976. The table on this page starts from that value.
Sources
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 — standard lapse rate (6.5 °C/km) and 15 °C sea-level temperature
- National Weather Service: Skew-T parameters — dry adiabatic lapse rate (NWS rounds it to 10 °C/km)
- National Weather Service — point forecasts for real conditions
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.