How to use the height from shadow calculator
Find the height of an object from its shadow and the Sun angle. Enter shadow length, sun elevation angle in the fields above; the object height is computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- sh — Shadow length (m)
- el — Sun elevation angle (°)
Worked example
With shadow length = 12 m, sun elevation angle = 40 °, the calculator gives object height ≈ 10.0692 m.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the height from shadow calculation?
Object height (m) = sh × tan(el). Here sh is shadow length (m), el is sun elevation angle (°).
What inputs do I need for the height from shadow calculator?
You need shadow length in m, sun elevation angle in °. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.