Denver, Colorado · field elev 5,885 ft
Density Altitude at Centennial (KAPA)
Centennial is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,885 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (87 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,965 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,080 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 | 31.8 | 5,492 ft | 44.6 | 6,334 ft ▲ |
| February | 33.0 | 5,572 ft | 45.7 | 6,406 ft ▲ |
| March | 40.8 | 6,087 ft | 54.3 | 6,956 ft ▲ |
| April | 46.7 | 6,470 ft | 59.8 | 7,301 ft ▲ |
| May | 55.7 | 7,044 ft | 68.7 | 7,851 ft ▲ |
| June | 66.7 | 7,729 ft | 81.2 | 8,605 ft ⚠ |
| July | 72.9 | 8,107 ft | 87.3 | 8,965 ft ⚠ |
| August | 70.8 | 7,980 ft | 84.5 | 8,800 ft ⚠ |
| September | 62.8 | 7,488 ft | 77.1 | 8,360 ft ⚠ |
| October | 50.0 | 6,682 ft | 63.9 | 7,556 ft ▲ |
| November | 39.3 | 5,989 ft | 52.4 | 6,835 ft ▲ |
| December | 31.4 | 5,465 ft | 44.0 | 6,296 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 KAPA
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,885 ft — the air behaves like 8,947 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,887 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 Colorado fields
- KDEN — Denver International
Denver · elev 5,434 ft
- KCFO — Colorado Air And Space Port
Denver · elev 5,515 ft
- KBJC — Rocky Mountain Metro
Denver · elev 5,673 ft
- KEIK — Erie Municipal
Erie · elev 5,119 ft
- 18V — Platte Valley Airpark
Hudson · elev 4,965 ft
- KBDU — Boulder Municipal
Boulder · elev 5,288 ft
- KLMO — Vance Brand
Longmont · elev 5,055 ft
- KFLY — Meadow Lake
Colorado Springs · elev 6,878 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KAPA in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 87 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Centennial reaches roughly 8,965 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 KAPA on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,465 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,107 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,885 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Centennial?
5,885 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KAPA (ICAO) / APA (FAA), in Denver, Colorado.