Rise Over Run Calculator
Calculate slope as rise over run from two points or by entering rise and run directly. Get the slope value, angle of inclination in degrees, and grade percentage used in construction and road design.
"Rise over run" is the most intuitive way to understand slope. The rise is how much you go up (or down), and the run is how far you go horizontally.
The Formula:
slope = rise / run = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
Converting to Angle:
The angle of inclination is the angle the line makes with the horizontal:
angle = arctan(slope)
A slope of 1 means a 45-degree angle. A slope of 0 means flat (0 degrees).
Grade Percentage:
Grade percentage is the slope expressed as a percent: grade = (rise / run) x 100. A 6% grade means the road rises 6 feet for every 100 feet of horizontal distance. This format is standard on road signs and construction plans.
Common Examples:
- A wheelchair ramp should have a maximum slope of 1:12 (8.33% grade, about 4.8 degrees)
- A typical residential staircase has a slope around 7:11 (63.6% grade, about 32.5 degrees)
- Highway grades rarely exceed 6% (about 3.4 degrees)