1. What is Slope Percentage?

Slope percentage is a way to express the steepness of a slope as a ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run, multiplied by 100 to convert it to a percentage. It's commonly used in construction, landscaping, and road design.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the slope percentage formula:

Where:

• \( Rise \) — Vertical change in elevation
• \( Run \) — Horizontal distance

Explanation: The formula calculates how much elevation changes over a given horizontal distance, expressed as a percentage.

3. Importance of Slope Calculation

Details: Slope percentage is crucial for designing accessible ramps (typically 8.33% max), determining proper drainage, planning road construction, and assessing land development potential.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter rise and run in the same units (feet, meters, etc.). Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the slope percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between slope percentage and slope angle?
A: Slope percentage is rise/run × 100, while slope angle is the arctangent of rise/run in degrees. 100% slope equals 45 degrees.

Q2: What is considered a steep slope?
A: Generally, slopes above 25% are considered steep, while above 40% are very steep. Building becomes challenging above 15%.

Q3: How do you measure rise and run in the field?
A: Use a level and measuring tape, or modern tools like laser levels or smartphone apps with inclinometers.

Q4: What's the maximum slope for wheelchair ramps?
A: ADA recommends 1:12 slope (8.33%) maximum for wheelchair ramps, with 1:20 (5%) preferred where possible.

Q5: How does slope percentage relate to grade?
A: They are the same measurement - slope percentage is sometimes called "percent grade" in engineering contexts.