Required Climb Rate Calculator
Fill in the values and the answer updates as you type.
How the Required Climb Rate Calculator works
Required rate (ft/min) = gradient (ft/NM) × groundspeed (kt) ÷ 60. Gradient in percent = gradient ÷ 6,076 × 100. Instrument departure procedures and obstacle clearance often publish gradients in ft/NM. A stronger tailwind raises groundspeed and so raises the climb rate you need. Compare the answer with your aircraft climb performance at the density altitude of the day. Example: with Required climb gradient 400 ft/NM, Groundspeed 90 kt, and Altitude to gain 3000 ft, the result is Required climb rate (ft/min) = 600; Climb gradient (%) = 6.58; Climb angle (°) = 3.77.
Inputs and results
The Required Climb Rate Calculator takes 3 inputs and gives 5 results.
What you enter
- Required climb gradient (ft/NM) — starts at 400.
- Groundspeed (kt) — starts at 90.
- Altitude to gain (ft) — starts at 3000.
What you get
- Required climb rate (ft/min)
- Climb gradient (%)
- Climb angle (°)
- Time to gain the altitude (minutes)
- Distance to gain the altitude (NM)
Example: Required Climb Rate Calculator with the starting values
With required climb gradient 400 ft/NM, groundspeed 90 kt and altitude to gain 3000 ft, the calculator returns:
| Required climb rate (ft/min) | 600 |
|---|---|
| Climb gradient (%) | 6.58 |
| Climb angle (°) | 3.77 |
| Time to gain the altitude (minutes) | 5 |
| Distance to gain the altitude (NM) | 7.5 |
Change any value above and the results update straight away.
Required Climb Rate Calculator FAQ
How do I use the Required Climb Rate Calculator?
Enter required climb gradient, groundspeed and altitude to gain in the fields, then read required climb rate (ft/min), climb gradient (%), climb angle (°) and time to gain the altitude (minutes) in the result panel. The answer updates as you type, and you can press Calculate or Enter to refresh it. Use “Copy link” to share your exact numbers with someone else.
What does the Required Climb Rate Calculator calculate?
Climb rate needed for a published climb gradient. It returns required climb rate (ft/min), climb gradient (%), climb angle (°) and time to gain the altitude (minutes) from the 3 values you provide.
What values does the Required Climb Rate Calculator start with?
It opens with required climb gradient 400 ft/NM, groundspeed 90 kt and altitude to gain 3000 ft so you can see a working result straight away. Replace them with your own numbers, or press Reset to return to these starting values.
Is the Required Climb Rate Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to or stored on our servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Can I rely on the Required Climb Rate Calculator for important decisions?
Treat the result as a well-rounded estimate. Real situations often have details a general calculator cannot know, so confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. See the Disclaimer for more.