Convert Air Pressure and Altitude

A simple calculator for air pressure at a given altitude above sea level. This is an estimate that gives good values under normal weather conditions up to an altitude of 11000 meters. It assumes a temperature of 15°C at sea level. A more accurate calculation, but more complicated, can be made using the barometric formula.

Please enter the altitude in meters or the air pressure in hectopascals (= millibars). The other value will be calculated.

The international altitude formula used for the calculation is: air pressure = 1013.25 hPa * [ 1 − 6.5 * altitude / (288150 m) ]^5.255

Example: on top of the mountain Zugspitze, at an altitude of 2962 meters, the average air pressure is just over 700 hectopascals.

This is about the average air pressure at a certain altitude above sea level, i.e. the air pressure under normal conditions. Of course, air pressure can also change at the same altitude depending on the weather. In high pressure areas it rises, in low pressure areas it falls.
Air pressure has a direct impact on people's physical well-being and health. Lower pressure makes physical activity more strenuous. Depending on your level of fitness, you can notice this even at moderate altitudes. Air pressure that is too low can lead to altitude sickness, which has nothing to do with your fitness level. If you have to cover large differences in altitude, you should gradually acclimatize to the thinner air. The area at which the altitude becomes uncomfortable and causes headaches starts at around 2500 meters, although there are large individual differences. The higher you go, the more dangerous altitude sickness becomes.
The lower air pressure also affects the boiling point of water, for example, which drops as the air pressure drops. So if you want to boil an egg at a high altitude, it will take a little longer.