Albuquerque, New Mexico · field elev 5,355 ft
Density Altitude at Albuquerque International Sunport (KABQ)
Albuquerque International Sunport is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,355 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (91 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,553 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,198 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37.4 | 5,209 ft | 48.4 | 5,928 ft ▲ |
| February | 41.9 | 5,505 ft | 54.1 | 6,293 ft ▲ |
| March | 49.5 | 5,999 ft | 62.8 | 6,841 ft ▲ |
| April | 56.8 | 6,464 ft | 70.3 | 7,304 ft ▲ |
| May | 66.1 | 7,045 ft | 79.9 | 7,885 ft ▲ |
| June | 76.1 | 7,657 ft | 90.4 | 8,506 ft ⚠ |
| July | 78.9 | 7,825 ft | 91.2 | 8,553 ft ⚠ |
| August | 76.9 | 7,705 ft | 88.8 | 8,413 ft ⚠ |
| September | 70.3 | 7,304 ft | 82.5 | 8,040 ft ⚠ |
| October | 58.4 | 6,565 ft | 70.6 | 7,322 ft ▲ |
| November | 45.7 | 5,753 ft | 57.3 | 6,496 ft ▲ |
| December | 36.9 | 5,176 ft | 47.3 | 5,857 ft ▲ |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KABQ
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,355 ft — the air behaves like 8,541 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,357 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby New Mexico fields
- KAEG — Double Eagle Ii
Albuquerque · elev 5,837 ft
- E98 — Mid Valley Airpark
Los Lunas · elev 4,836 ft
- 1N1 — Sandia Airpark Estates East
Edgewood · elev 6,565 ft
- KBRG — Belen Regional
Belen · elev 5,200 ft
- 0E0 — Moriarty Municipal
Moriarty · elev 6,204 ft
- E92 — Estancia Municipal
Estancia · elev 6,100 ft
- M10 — Mountainair Municipal
Mountainair · elev 6,492 ft
- KSAF — Santa Fe Regional
Santa Fe · elev 6,349 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KABQ in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 91 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Albuquerque International Sunport reaches roughly 8,553 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KABQ on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,176 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,825 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,355 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Albuquerque International Sunport?
5,355 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KABQ (ICAO) / ABQ (FAA), in Albuquerque, New Mexico.