Rate of Climb Calculator

Summary

Enter excess thrust power, aircraft weight, and airspeed to compute rate of climb in feet per minute, climb gradient, and time to reach a target altitude.

How it works

1. Enter the total power available from the engine(s) in horsepower (hp).
2. Enter the power required for level flight at your selected airspeed in horsepower — the difference becomes excess power.
3. Enter the aircraft gross weight in pounds (lb).
4. Enter the indicated or true airspeed in knots (used to compute climb gradient).
5. Optionally enter a target altitude and current altitude to compute time to climb.
6. The tool calculates rate of climb (ft/min), climb gradient (%), and estimated time to altitude.

Use cases

• Verify climb performance figures against your aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH).
• Estimate departure climb gradient for obstacle clearance planning.
• Compare climb rates at different power settings or gross weights.
• Calculate time to cruise altitude during flight planning.
• Evaluate how a heavy load reduces climb performance on a hot day.
• Teach student pilots the relationship between excess power and climb rate.
• Pre-flight assessment for departures from high-elevation or short runways.
• Analyze multi-engine climb capability with one engine inoperative.

Frequently Asked Questions