Shelby, Montana · field elev 3,443 ft
Density Altitude at Shelby (KSBX)
From a field elevation of 3,443 ft, a typical July afternoon at Shelby (82 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,702 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.8 | 1,558 ft | 31.4 | 2,434 ft |
| February | 22.6 | 1,825 ft | 35.3 | 2,699 ft |
| March | 31.2 | 2,420 ft | 43.9 | 3,275 ft |
| April | 41.3 | 3,102 ft | 54.2 | 3,950 ft |
| May | 51.2 | 3,755 ft | 64.4 | 4,602 ft |
| June | 59.3 | 4,278 ft | 72.6 | 5,114 ft ▲ |
| July | 66.8 | 4,753 ft | 82.2 | 5,702 ft ▲ |
| August | 65.8 | 4,690 ft | 82.2 | 5,702 ft ▲ |
| September | 55.7 | 4,047 ft | 70.9 | 5,009 ft ▲ |
| October | 42.6 | 3,189 ft | 56.2 | 4,079 ft |
| November | 29.8 | 2,324 ft | 42.0 | 3,149 ft |
| December | 21.1 | 1,720 ft | 33.1 | 2,550 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 KSBX
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,443 ft — the air behaves like 5,690 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,445 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 Montana fields
- KCTB — Cut Bank International
Cut Bank · elev 3,858 ft
- 7S7 — Valier
Valier · elev 3,826 ft
- S01 — Conrad
Conrad · elev 3,548 ft
- 7S8 — Ross International
Sweetgrass · elev 3,553 ft
- B70 — Tiber Dam
Tiber Dam · elev 3,023 ft
- KLTY — Liberty County
Chester · elev 3,185 ft
- 5U1 — Dutton
Dutton · elev 3,699 ft
- KCII — Choteau
Choteau · elev 3,947 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSBX in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 82 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Shelby reaches roughly 5,702 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 KSBX on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,558 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,753 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,443 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Shelby?
3,443 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSBX (ICAO) / SBX (FAA), in Shelby, Montana.