Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · field elev 36 ft
Density Altitude at Philadelphia International (KPHL)
Philadelphia International sits at 36 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (88 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 1,896 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 | 33.7 | −1,655 ft | 41.3 | −1,128 ft |
| February | 35.9 | −1,501 ft | 44.3 | −922 ft |
| March | 43.6 | −970 ft | 52.8 | −349 ft |
| April | 54.5 | −235 ft | 64.7 | 435 ft |
| May | 64.3 | 409 ft | 74.4 | 1,058 ft |
| June | 73.5 | 1,001 ft | 83.2 | 1,611 ft |
| July | 78.7 | 1,330 ft | 87.8 | 1,896 ft |
| August | 76.8 | 1,210 ft | 85.8 | 1,773 ft |
| September | 69.9 | 771 ft | 78.9 | 1,343 ft |
| October | 58.2 | 10 ft | 67.2 | 597 ft |
| November | 47.4 | −712 ft | 55.9 | −142 ft |
| December | 38.6 | −1,314 ft | 46.0 | −807 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 KPHL
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 36 ft — the air behaves like 1,909 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 37 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 Pennsylvania fields
- KLOM — Wings Field
Philadelphia · elev 302 ft
- KPNE — Northeast Philadelphia
Philadelphia · elev 120 ft
- KOQN — Brandywine Regional
West Chester · elev 465 ft
- N57 — New Garden
Toughkenamon · elev 435 ft
- KPTW — Heritage Field
Pottstown · elev 308 ft
- KDYL — Doylestown
Doylestown · elev 394 ft
- KMQS — Chester County G O Carlson
Coatesville · elev 660 ft
- N47 — Pottstown Municipal
Pottstown · elev 256 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KPHL in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 88 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Philadelphia International reaches roughly 1,896 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 KPHL on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,655 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,330 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 36 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Philadelphia International?
36 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KPHL (ICAO) / PHL (FAA), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.