Running or cycling on hills requires an understanding of slope and gradient. The hill grade (in %) measures how steep a climb is, while the incline (in degrees) shows the actual angle of the slope. This calculator helps athletes gauge the difficulty of a climb and better prepare their pacing and energy management.
Whether you are training for a hilly marathon, preparing for a mountain bike race, or just curious about the slope of your local routes, understanding hill grade is essential. A 10% grade means that for every 100 meters forward, you climb 10 meters up—a steep challenge for any athlete. Incline in degrees provides another perspective, often used in treadmill workouts to simulate real-world conditions.
| Grade (%) | Incline (°) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2 - 4% | 1.1° - 2.3° | Gentle incline, common in rolling terrain |
| 5 - 7% | 2.9° - 4.0° | Challenging but sustainable climb |
| 8 - 10% | 4.6° - 5.7° | Steep climb requiring strong effort |
| 12%+ | 6.8°+ | Very steep, often short and explosive |
| Climb | Location | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartbreak Hill | Boston Marathon | 4 - 5% | Famous late-race climb testing marathoners |
| Alpe d'Huez | Tour de France | 8 - 9% | Iconic cycling climb with 21 switchbacks |
| Mount Washington Auto Road | New Hampshire, USA | 12% | One of the steepest long climbs in road racing |
| Cauberg | Amstel Gold Race | 6 - 7% | Short but decisive climb in cycling classics |