Staples, Minnesota · field elev 1,288 ft

Density Altitude at Staples Municipal (KSAZ)

Staples Municipal sits at 1,288 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (78 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,818 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,818 ft station: WADENA 3 S · 16 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at WADENA 3 S (16 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 8.1 −1,925 ft 17.8 −1,216 ft
February 12.4 −1,609 ft 23.0 −844 ft
March 25.4 −673 ft 35.5 32 ft
April 40.5 375 ft 51.8 1,134 ft
May 53.8 1,266 ft 65.4 2,021 ft
June 63.7 1,912 ft 73.9 2,561 ft
July 67.8 2,174 ft 78.0 2,818 ft
August 65.7 2,040 ft 76.5 2,724 ft
September 57.5 1,509 ft 68.6 2,225 ft
October 43.8 599 ft 53.9 1,273 ft
November 28.7 −441 ft 37.1 142 ft
December 15.4 −1,390 ft 23.5 −808 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 KSAZ

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,818 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,818 ft

Field elevation 1,288 ft — the air behaves like 2,818 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,289 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 KSAZ in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 78 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Staples Municipal reaches roughly 2,818 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 KSAZ on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,925 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,174 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,288 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Staples Municipal?

1,288 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSAZ (ICAO) / SAZ (FAA), in Staples, Minnesota.