Slope Percent
Steepness of terrain as a percentage.
Formula
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Example
10 m over 100 m = 10%
How it works
Slope percent tells you how steep a surface is by comparing how much it rises vertically to how far it moves horizontally. The formula works because it measures the ratio of height change to horizontal distance, then multiplies by 100 to express that ratio as a percentage. A larger percentage means a steeper slope; a smaller percentage means a gentler one.
When to use it
Use this when describing hills, roads, ramps, drainage channels, or any terrain where you want to express steepness in an easy-to-read percent. It is common in geography, civil engineering, and map reading.
Worked example, step by step
Vertical rise = 15 m Horizontal run = 300 m Slope = (rise ÷ run) × 100 Slope = (15 ÷ 300) × 100 Slope = 0.05 × 100 Slope = 5% So the terrain has a slope of 5%.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the sloping distance instead of the horizontal run
- Forgetting to multiply by 100 at the end
- Mixing up rise and run so the slope is calculated backwards
Did You Know?
A road's "10% grade" sign means it rises 10 metres for every 100 metres travelled forward.
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