Des Moines, Iowa · field elev 958 ft
Density Altitude at Des Moines International (KDSM)
Des Moines International sits at 958 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (86 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,885 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 | 22.3 | −1,307 ft | 30.9 | −699 ft |
| February | 26.9 | −980 ft | 35.7 | −365 ft |
| March | 39.4 | −111 ft | 49.2 | 553 ft |
| April | 51.3 | 693 ft | 62.0 | 1,396 ft |
| May | 62.4 | 1,422 ft | 72.4 | 2,062 ft |
| June | 72.2 | 2,049 ft | 81.9 | 2,657 ft |
| July | 76.0 | 2,289 ft | 85.6 | 2,885 ft |
| August | 73.9 | 2,157 ft | 83.6 | 2,762 ft |
| September | 66.2 | 1,667 ft | 76.9 | 2,345 ft |
| October | 53.2 | 819 ft | 63.4 | 1,486 ft |
| November | 39.3 | −117 ft | 48.3 | 492 ft |
| December | 27.7 | −924 ft | 35.9 | −351 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 KDSM
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 958 ft — the air behaves like 2,909 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 959 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 Iowa fields
- KIKV — Ankeny Regional
Ankeny · elev 910 ft
- 6Z6 — Nash Field Indianola
Indianola · elev 991 ft
- 3Y3 — Winterset Municipal
Winterset · elev 1,116 ft
- KAMW — Ames Municipal
Ames · elev 956 ft
- KPRO — Perry Municipal
Perry · elev 1,013 ft
- KOXV — Knoxville Municipal
Knoxville · elev 928 ft
- I75 — Osceola Municipal
Osceola · elev 1,115 ft
- KTNU — Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field
Newton · elev 953 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KDSM in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Des Moines International reaches roughly 2,885 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 KDSM on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,307 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,289 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 958 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Des Moines International?
958 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KDSM (ICAO) / DSM (FAA), in Des Moines, Iowa.