What this result means
Elevation gain here is course arithmetic, not grade-adjusted pace. It answers how many metres you climbed between two elevations or from a gain figure you already know.
Use gain per kilometre when you want how hilly a distance is. Use VAM or vertical speed when you care about climbing rate over time.
120 m to 420 m is 300 m gain (about 984 ft). Over 10 km that is 30 m/km.
A net loss is negative gain. Many runners still talk about cumulative climb separately; this page reports the net figure you enter or compute from endpoints.
Calculation method
Gain = end − start when endpoints are used. Optional gain per km = gain ÷ distance_km. Feet use 1 m ≈ 3.28084 ft.
Exact arithmetic. No GPS download and no smoothing of a track.
GPS elevation can be noisy. The calculator trusts the numbers you type. Cumulative ups-and-downs are not reconstructed from a file.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as grade-adjusted pace?
No. GAP converts pace on a grade into flat-equivalent pace. This page only does elevation metres and optional gain per kilometre.
How do I get metres per kilometre?
Enter a distance on this page, or open the elevation gain per km calculator when that is the headline question.
Can gain be negative?
Yes if the finish is lower than the start, or if you enter a negative direct gain. That is net change, not cumulative climb.
Where do I estimate a finish time from gain?
Use the elevation-adjusted finish calculator or the uphill race predictor. Those apply a Minetti multiplier from average grade.