Scottsdale, Arizona · field elev 1,510 ft

Density Altitude at Scottsdale (KSDL)

Scottsdale sits at 1,510 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (104 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 4,665 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈4,665 ft station: SCOTTSDALE MUNI AP · 0 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at SCOTTSDALE MUNI AP (0 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 54.9 1,613 ft 66.5 2,364 ft
February 57.3 1,770 ft 68.7 2,504 ft
March 63.7 2,185 ft 75.7 2,945 ft
April 70.6 2,625 ft 82.8 3,386 ft
May 79.3 3,170 ft 91.8 3,934 ft
June 89.1 3,770 ft 102.0 4,541 ft
July 93.4 4,030 ft 104.1 4,665 ft
August 92.3 3,964 ft 102.9 4,594 ft
September 86.7 3,624 ft 98.2 4,317 ft
October 75.0 2,902 ft 87.3 3,661 ft
November 62.7 2,120 ft 74.8 2,889 ft
December 53.6 1,527 ft 64.6 2,242 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 KSDL

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 4,659 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 4,659 ft

Field elevation 1,510 ft — the air behaves like 4,659 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,511 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 Arizona fields

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KSDL in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 104 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Scottsdale reaches roughly 4,665 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 KSDL on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,527 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,030 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,510 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Scottsdale?

1,510 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSDL (ICAO) / SDL (FAA), in Scottsdale, Arizona.