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Angle of Depression Calculator

Use the displayed units and input constraints. Calculations use unrounded inputs.

Use the displayed units and input constraints. Calculations use unrounded inputs.

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Result

Enter your values and run the tool to see your result.

What this tool does

Computes the downward viewing angle from a height and a horizontal distance: the arctangent of height divided by distance, in degrees.

How to use it

  1. Enter the observer’s height.
  2. Enter the horizontal distance to the target in the same unit.
  3. Run it for the angle of depression in degrees.

Worked example

A height of 10 m over a horizontal distance of 20 m gives arctan(10/20) ≈ 26.57 degrees.

Calculation method

Depression angleatan(height/distance)*180/pi

Frequently asked questions

Is the distance a straight line?
No, use the horizontal distance. Entering the slant distance gives too small an angle.
Is the angle of elevation computed the same way?
The value is identical — elevation and depression are alternate angles and equal in magnitude.

What this tool does not cover

Plane geometry only. Earth curvature, atmospheric refraction, and instrument error are not reflected.

References