Vertical Speed Calculator
Calculate vertical speed from elevation gain and elapsed time, then convert it into meters per hour, feet per hour, VAM, and projected climb times.
What is vertical speed?
Vertical speed is the rate at which you gain elevation. Hikers may call it ascent rate, trail runners may use vertical meters per hour, and cyclists often use VAM. The idea is the same: how fast you move upward, not just how fast you move forward.
How is vertical speed calculated?
This page reports the result in meters per hour, feet per hour, meters per minute, and feet per minute because different sports and countries use different formats.
When is vertical speed useful?
It is useful when distance is not the best way to describe difficulty. A short steep climb can take longer than a longer flat section. Tracking vertical speed helps you compare climbs, estimate summit times, and manage effort on ascent-heavy routes.
What can make vertical speed misleading?
Technical terrain, altitude, heat, pack weight, and stopping time can all lower the number. If you want a pure fitness measure, use moving time on similar climbs. If you want trip planning, use total elapsed time.
Frequently asked questions
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In practical use, VAM is vertical ascent in meters per hour. This calculator shows both so hikers, runners, and cyclists can use the same result.
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Use moving time for fitness comparison and total time for real route planning. Breaks can change the number a lot.
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Because flat pace can be almost meaningless on steep climbs. Vertical speed shows the climbing workload more directly.
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Yes, but only carefully. Surface, gradient, altitude, and pack weight can change the effort needed for the same vertical speed.
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It depends on fitness, gradient, and conditions. The most useful comparison is against your own past climbs.