Chicago, Illinois · field elev 680 ft
Density Altitude at Chicago O'Hare International (KORD)
Chicago O'Hare International sits at 680 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,478 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 | 25.2 | −1,449 ft | 31.6 | −997 ft |
| February | 28.8 | −1,194 ft | 35.7 | −712 ft |
| March | 39.0 | −484 ft | 47.0 | 60 ft |
| April | 49.7 | 242 ft | 59.0 | 858 ft |
| May | 60.6 | 962 ft | 70.5 | 1,600 ft |
| June | 70.6 | 1,607 ft | 80.4 | 2,224 ft |
| July | 75.4 | 1,911 ft | 84.5 | 2,478 ft |
| August | 73.8 | 1,810 ft | 82.5 | 2,355 ft |
| September | 66.3 | 1,331 ft | 75.5 | 1,917 ft |
| October | 54.0 | 528 ft | 62.7 | 1,099 ft |
| November | 41.3 | −326 ft | 48.4 | 155 ft |
| December | 30.5 | −1,074 ft | 36.6 | −649 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 KORD
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 680 ft — the air behaves like 2,509 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 681 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 Illinois fields
- KPWK — Chicago Exec
Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling · elev 645 ft
- 06C — Schaumburg Regional
Chicago/Schaumburg · elev 801 ft
- KMDW — Chicago Midway International
Chicago · elev 620 ft
- KDPA — Dupage
Chicago/West Chicago · elev 759 ft
- 1C5 — Bolingbrook'S Clow International
Bolingbrook · elev 675 ft
- C81 — Campbell
Grayslake · elev 788 ft
- 3CK — Lake In The Hills
Chicago/Lake In The Hills · elev 887 ft
- KLOT — Lewis University
Chicago/Romeoville · elev 679 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KORD in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Chicago O'Hare International reaches roughly 2,478 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 KORD on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,449 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,911 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 680 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Chicago O'Hare International?
680 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KORD (ICAO) / ORD (FAA), in Chicago, Illinois.