Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator
Enter your elevation, or the actual barometric pressure, to see the temperature at which water boils in °C and °F. Useful for cooking, brewing coffee and tea, canning, thermometer calibration and camping at high altitude.
Last updated:
Uses the International Standard Atmosphere. Actual pressure changes with the weather by a few percent, shifting the boiling point by up to about 1 °C (2 °F).
Use station (actual) pressure, not the sea-level-adjusted value from weather reports. Phone barometer apps usually show actual pressure.
Boiling point of water by elevation
How to use the Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator
- Choose From altitude or From pressure.
- Enter your elevation in feet or meters, or tap a quick place. For pressure, enter the actual station pressure and pick its unit.
- Read the boiling point in °C and °F, how much lower it is than at sea level, and the air pressure.
- Check the table to compare elevations; your row is highlighted. Switch it between feet and meters or download it as CSV.
- Press Copy result to save the numbers in a recipe or notes.
Why water boils at a lower temperature at altitude
Water boils when its vapor pressure equals the pressure of the air above it. Air pressure falls as you climb, so the water reaches that point at a lower temperature. The rule of thumb is a drop of about 1 °C for every 300 m (roughly 1 °F for every 500 ft) near sea level.
This calculator does it in two steps:
- Pressure from elevation (International Standard Atmosphere, valid up to 11 km): P = 101,325 Pa × (1 − 2.25577×10⁻⁵ × h)5.25588, with h in meters.
- Boiling temperature from pressure: the saturation-temperature equation of the IAPWS-IF97 standard for water and steam, which is accurate to a few hundredths of a degree.
Boiling point of water by elevation
| Elevation | Standard pressure | Boiling point |
|---|---|---|
| Sea level (0 ft / 0 m) | 1,013.25 hPa | 100.0 °C / 212.0 °F |
| 1,000 ft (305 m) | 977.2 hPa | 99.0 °C / 210.1 °F |
| 2,000 ft (610 m) | 942.1 hPa | 97.9 °C / 208.3 °F |
| 3,000 ft (914 m) | 908.1 hPa | 96.9 °C / 206.5 °F |
| 5,000 ft (1,524 m) | 843.1 hPa | 94.9 °C / 202.8 °F |
| 7,000 ft (2,134 m) | 781.9 hPa | 92.9 °C / 199.2 °F |
| 8,000 ft (2,438 m) | 752.6 hPa | 91.9 °C / 197.3 °F |
| 10,000 ft (3,048 m) | 696.8 hPa | 89.8 °C / 193.7 °F |
| 12,000 ft (3,658 m) | 644.4 hPa | 87.8 °C / 190.0 °F |
| 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 595.2 hPa | 85.7 °C / 186.3 °F |
Tips for cooking and brewing at altitude
- Allow more time for anything cooked in boiling or simmering water, such as pasta, rice, beans, potatoes and eggs, because the water is cooler than at sea level.
- Use a lid and expect more evaporation; add a little extra water to long simmers.
- Calibrate a thermometer by checking it in boiling water against the temperature shown here for your elevation, not against 100 °C.
- Pressure cookers restore higher temperatures: about 15 psi above the outside air raises the boiling point to roughly 121 °C (250 °F) at sea level.
- Candy and jam stages are usually given for sea level; subtract the difference between 100 °C and your local boiling point from the recipe's target temperature.
Frequently asked questions
At what temperature does water boil at altitude?
Roughly 1 °C lower for every 300 m (about 1 °F per 500 ft) near sea level. In standard conditions water boils at about 94.9 °C (202.8 °F) at 5,000 ft, 89.8 °C (193.7 °F) at 10,000 ft and about 70 °C (158 °F) on the summit of Everest.
What is the boiling point of water in Denver?
At Denver's elevation of 5,280 ft (1,609 m), water boils at about 94.6 °C or 202.3 °F in standard atmospheric conditions. Weather can move that by around half a degree to a degree either way.
Why does water boil at a lower temperature at high altitude?
Water boils when its vapor pressure matches the surrounding air pressure. Higher up there is less air above you, so pressure is lower and the water's vapor pressure reaches it at a lower temperature.
Does food take longer to cook at high altitude?
Yes, for food cooked in boiling water or steam. The water cannot get hotter than its boiling point, which is lower at altitude, so pasta, rice, beans and boiled eggs need extra time. Oven baking is affected differently, mostly through faster evaporation and rising.
Which barometric pressure should I enter?
Enter the actual (station) pressure at your location. Weather reports usually give pressure adjusted to sea level, which would make every location look like sea level. Many phone barometer apps and home weather stations can show the actual value.
How does a pressure cooker change the boiling point?
It traps steam and raises the pressure inside. At about 15 psi above atmospheric pressure, water boils at roughly 121 °C (250 °F) at sea level, which cooks food much faster. Tick the gauge-pressure option and enter the cooker's pressure to see the temperature.
Is the sea level boiling point exactly 100 °C?
On the current ITS-90 temperature scale, pure water at exactly 1 atmosphere (101.325 kPa) boils at about 99.97 °C, which rounds to 100 °C or 212 °F. Dissolved salt raises it slightly, but the amount of salt used in cooking changes it by only a fraction of a degree.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.