Climb gradient

Add the length of a hill and how high it goes to get its average gradient.

Your details

2.0 miles (3.2 km) gaining 150 m (492 ft)

4.7%

steady climb

Angle2.7°
As older UK road signs put it1 in 21
Height gained per km47 m
Height gained per mile246 ft
Your timeadd how long it took to see your speed and climbing rate

This is the average. Most climbs have steeper ramps, often on the bends, so expect a few sections well above this number.

The working

2 miles gaining 150 m

2 miles is 3,219 m along the road. 150 m up over that is 4.7%, an angle of 2.7°. That is 47 m of climbing every km, or about 246 ft a mile: a steady climb.

How steep is steep

Rough guide

Gradient	On a bike
under 3%	gentle drag
3 to 6%	steady climb, find a rhythm
6 to 10%	hard, low gears
10% and up	very steep, walking is fine

Climbing well

Tips

Shift down before the steep bit, not on it
Sit for most of it, stand for short ramps
Start steady: the top is where it counts
Breathe out fully, relax your shoulders

Your time and older signs

Speed, VAM and 1 in N

Add how long the climb took and the page shows your average speed up it and your VAM, the metres climbed in an hour. Two miles gaining 150 m in 15 minutes is about 12.9 km/h and 600 metres an hour.

Older UK road signs gave hills as 1 in N (1 in 10 is 10%). The page shows both, so a 4.7% climb reads as about 1 in 21. Newer signs use percentages.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Steep rampsAn average hides the steepest parts.
Map accuracyPhone elevation can be well out.
DescentsDips in the middle make the climbing part steeper.

Questions

Common questions

How is road gradient calculated?

Height gained divided by the horizontal distance, times 100.

Is a 10% gradient steep?

Yes, for most riders that is low gear territory.

What is 1 in 10 as a percentage?

10%. A 1 in 5 hill is 20%.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Before you push on

New to exercise, or got a heart, lung or joint condition? Have a word with your GP or practice nurse first. Stop and get help if you feel chest pain, faintness or unusual breathlessness, and call 999 if it is severe.