Sacramento, California · field elev 27 ft
Density Altitude at Sacramento International (KSMF)
Sacramento International sits at 27 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (94 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,240 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 | 46.5 | −784 ft | 55.0 | −213 ft |
| February | 50.3 | −527 ft | 60.4 | 144 ft |
| March | 54.4 | −253 ft | 65.8 | 496 ft |
| April | 58.8 | 38 ft | 72.1 | 901 ft |
| May | 66.2 | 522 ft | 80.9 | 1,457 ft |
| June | 72.5 | 926 ft | 88.5 | 1,928 ft |
| July | 76.3 | 1,168 ft | 93.6 | 2,240 ft |
| August | 75.3 | 1,104 ft | 92.4 | 2,167 ft |
| September | 71.8 | 882 ft | 88.5 | 1,928 ft |
| October | 63.5 | 346 ft | 78.6 | 1,313 ft |
| November | 52.6 | −373 ft | 64.2 | 392 ft |
| December | 46.1 | −811 ft | 55.0 | −213 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 KSMF
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 27 ft — the air behaves like 2,264 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 28 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 California fields
- L36 — Rio Linda
Rio Linda · elev 46 ft
- KMCC — Mc Clellan Airfield
Sacramento · elev 77 ft
- KSAC — Sacramento Exec
Sacramento · elev 23 ft
- O41 — Watts-Woodland
Woodland · elev 125 ft
- KEDU — University
Davis · elev 70 ft
- KDWA — Yolo County
Davis/Woodland/Winters · elev 100 ft
- KMHR — Sacramento Mather
Sacramento · elev 98 ft
- KLHM — Lincoln Regional/Karl Harder Field
Lincoln · elev 121 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSMF in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 94 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Sacramento International reaches roughly 2,240 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 KSMF on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −811 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,168 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 27 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Sacramento International?
27 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSMF (ICAO) / SMF (FAA), in Sacramento, California.