Gradient Calculator
Calculate gradient as a ratio, percentage and angle.
Gradient
1 in 10
- Gradient
- 10 %
- Angle
- 5.71 °
v1.0 · Reviewed September 2026
How this is worked out
The ratio is the horizontal distance ÷ the rise, expressed as 1 in n. The percentage is rise ÷ run × 100, and the angle is the arctangent of rise ÷ run.
Worked example
- Rise 1 m
- Run 10 m
10 ÷ 1, and 1 ÷ 10 × 100
1 in 10, which is 10% or 5.71°
Assumptions and limits
- The run is horizontal distance, not the sloping length along the surface. Using the slope length slightly understates the gradient.
- 1 in 10 is not the same as 10 degrees. The three figures are different ways of describing the same slope.
- Not a compliance check. Approved Document M sets its own limits for ramps and access routes.