Air Pressure at Altitude Calculator
Estimate barometric pressure (hPa) at altitude
Default is standard sea-level pressure (1013.25 hPa).
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Altitude
Provide height above sea level in meters.
Sea-level Pressure
Use default 1013.25 hPa, or enter current sea-level pressure.
Calculate
Result shows estimated pressure at the given altitude.
Formula
p = p₀ · (1 − L·h/T₀)^(g·M/(R·L))
Where: p₀ = sea-level pressure, h = altitude, L = 0.0065 K/m, T₀ = 288.15 K, g = 9.80665 m/s², M = 0.0289644 kg/mol, R = 8.3144598 J/(mol·K)
Note: Valid in the troposphere (up to ~11 km) assuming standard lapse rate.
About Air Pressure vs Altitude
Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude because the weight of the air column above decreases. Weather patterns also shift surface pressure from the standard value.
Applications
- Aviation: Understanding density altitude and performance
- Meteorology: Converting station pressure to sea-level pressure
- Hiking: Estimating weather impacts at elevation
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does pressure drop with altitude?
There is less air above you exerting weight, so the pressure is lower.
Is temperature considered?
Yes, the standard lapse rate (L) models how temperature decreases with height.