Redding, California · field elev 723 ft

Density Altitude at Benton Field (O85)

Benton Field sits at 723 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (100 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,464 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈3,464 ft station: REDDING MUNI AP · 7 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at REDDING MUNI AP (7 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 47.5 147 ft 57.2 793 ft
February 50.5 349 ft 61.0 1,041 ft
March 54.4 608 ft 65.7 1,346 ft
April 59.4 937 ft 71.8 1,736 ft
May 68.2 1,506 ft 82.0 2,376 ft
June 77.1 2,070 ft 91.9 2,983 ft
July 83.4 2,463 ft 99.9 3,464 ft
August 81.0 2,314 ft 98.1 3,357 ft
September 75.3 1,957 ft 92.3 3,008 ft
October 64.8 1,288 ft 79.4 2,214 ft
November 52.9 508 ft 64.4 1,262 ft
December 46.6 87 ft 56.0 714 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 O85

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 3,470 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 3,470 ft

Field elevation 723 ft — the air behaves like 3,470 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
724 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 O85 in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 100 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Benton Field reaches roughly 3,464 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 O85 on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly 87 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,463 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 723 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Benton Field?

723 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is O85 (FAA), in Redding, California.