Bedford, Massachusetts · field elev 132 ft
Density Altitude at Laurence G Hanscom Field (KBED)
Laurence G Hanscom Field sits at 132 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 1,847 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.5 | −1,972 ft | 36.8 | −1,319 ft |
| February | 29.3 | −1,845 ft | 39.4 | −1,139 ft |
| March | 37.3 | −1,284 ft | 47.5 | −586 ft |
| April | 48.5 | −518 ft | 59.9 | 240 ft |
| May | 58.6 | 155 ft | 70.4 | 921 ft |
| June | 67.8 | 754 ft | 79.4 | 1,491 ft |
| July | 73.6 | 1,125 ft | 85.1 | 1,847 ft |
| August | 71.9 | 1,017 ft | 83.6 | 1,754 ft |
| September | 63.7 | 489 ft | 75.7 | 1,258 ft |
| October | 52.2 | −270 ft | 63.6 | 482 ft |
| November | 42.4 | −933 ft | 52.4 | −256 ft |
| December | 33.0 | −1,584 ft | 42.0 | −960 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 KBED
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 132 ft — the air behaves like 1,840 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 133 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 Massachusetts fields
- 6B6 — Minute Man Air Field
Stow · elev 280 ft
- KBOS — General Edward Lawrence Logan International
Boston · elev 19 ft
- KLWM — Lawrence Municipal
Lawrence · elev 148 ft
- KOWD — Norwood Meml
Norwood · elev 49 ft
- KBVY — Beverly Regional
Beverly · elev 107 ft
- KFIT — Fitchburg Municipal
Fitchburg · elev 345 ft
- 3B3 — Sterling
Sterling · elev 459 ft
- 1B6 — Hopedale Industrial Park
Hopedale · elev 269 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KBED in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Laurence G Hanscom Field reaches roughly 1,847 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 KBED on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,972 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,125 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 132 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Laurence G Hanscom Field?
132 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KBED (ICAO) / BED (FAA), in Bedford, Massachusetts.