Dayton, Ohio · field elev 1,009 ft

Density Altitude at James M Cox Dayton International (KDAY)

James M Cox Dayton International sits at 1,009 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (86 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,965 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,965 ft station: DAYTON INTL AP · 0 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at DAYTON INTL AP (0 mi from the field) · standard pressure, dry air
Month Avg temp °F DA at avg temp Afternoon high °F DA on a typical afternoon
January 29.4 −740 ft 37.1 −205 ft
February 32.8 −503 ft 41.2 76 ft
March 42.1 137 ft 51.5 769 ft
April 53.7 915 ft 64.5 1,620 ft
May 64.0 1,588 ft 74.2 2,238 ft
June 72.7 2,143 ft 82.6 2,762 ft
July 76.0 2,351 ft 85.9 2,965 ft
August 74.5 2,257 ft 84.6 2,886 ft
September 67.7 1,826 ft 78.6 2,514 ft
October 56.0 1,067 ft 66.2 1,729 ft
November 44.1 273 ft 52.7 849 ft
December 34.3 −399 ft 41.5 96 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 KDAY

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,972 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,972 ft

Field elevation 1,009 ft — the air behaves like 2,972 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,010 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

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KDAY in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at James M Cox Dayton International reaches roughly 2,965 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 KDAY on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −740 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,351 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,009 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of James M Cox Dayton International?

1,009 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KDAY (ICAO) / DAY (FAA), in Dayton, Ohio.