Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator

Have you ever boiled water in the mountains and noticed it bubbled sooner? That’s because the boiling point of water changes with altitude. At sea level, water boils at 100 °C (212 °F). But go higher, and it boils at a lower temperature.

Our Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator makes this super easy. You just enter the elevation, and it gives you the exact boiling point in seconds. No math stress, no confusion.

What is the Boiling Point?

The boiling point is the temperature where water changes from liquid to gas. At this point, vapor pressure equals the surrounding air pressure.

Since air pressure decreases as you go higher, water boils at a lower temperature on a mountain than in a city near the sea.

How to Calculate Boiling Point Based on Elevation

There’s a handy formula scientists use to find the boiling point.

Step 1: Calculate pressure at altitude

pressure = 29.921 × (1 − 0.0000068753 × altitude)^5.2559

• pressure is in inches of mercury (inHg)
• altitude is in feet

Step 2: Calculate boiling point from pressure

boiling point = 49.161 × ln(pressure) + 44.932

• result is in Fahrenheit

You can then convert to Celsius or Kelvin if you prefer.

Real-Life Examples

What temperature does water boil at 1000 ft elevation?

Let’s plug in the numbers:

pressure = 29.921 × (1 − 0.0000068753 × 1000)^5.2559

pressure ≈ 28.86 inHg

boiling point = 49.161 × ln(28.86) + 44.932

boiling point ≈ 210.2 °F (about 99 °C)

So, at 1000 ft, water boils a little below 100 °C.

What temperature does water boil at 2000 m elevation?

2000 m = 6562 ft

pressure = 29.921 × (1 − 0.0000068753 × 6562)^5.2559

pressure ≈ 23.82 inHg

boiling point = 49.161 × ln(23.82) + 44.932

boiling point ≈ 203.4 °F (about 95 °C)

That means your pasta will take longer to cook at this height.

How much does 1 psi raise the boiling point of water?

Adding pressure makes water boil at a higher temperature. That’s why pressure cookers work so well.

1 psi increase in pressure raises the boiling point by about 3 °F (1.7 °C). This is why beans cook faster in a pressure cooker it traps extra pressure inside.

How to Use Our Calculator

Using the Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator is simple:

1. Enter the altitude in meters, feet, or kilometers.
2. Choose the temperature unit (Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin).
3. Pick your pressure unit (inHg, hPa, bar, psi, or mmHg).
4. Hit calculate.

You’ll instantly see the boiling point along with step-by-step math.

Final Verdict

Water doesn’t always boil at 100 °C. Altitude and pressure play a big role. If you love hiking, camping, or cooking at different heights, knowing the boiling point is useful. Our calculator saves time and gives you clear, accurate results.

FAQs

Does water boil faster at higher altitudes?

Yes, it boils at a lower temperature. But food often takes longer to cook since the water isn’t as hot.

Why does pressure affect boiling point?

Because boiling happens when vapor pressure equals air pressure. Less air pressure means boiling happens sooner.

Is boiling point important for cooking?

Yes. Bakers, hikers, and chefs often need to adjust recipes based on altitude.