Skip to main content
Calcimator

Antenna Height Calculator

Calculate the required tower height for line-of-sight coverage over a given distance, accounting for earth curvature and remote antenna height.

Inputs

km
m

Results

Required Tower Height

2.86 m

≈ 19 smartphones

Total LOS Distance

20 km

≈ 61 Eiffel Towers

Tower Horizon Distance6.97 km
Remote Horizon Distance13.03 km
1st Fresnel Zone Radius (2.4 GHz)24.99 m
Max LOS from 30m Tower22.57 km
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the target distance to the remote station.
  2. Set the remote antenna height (m) and K-factor (effective Earth radius multiplier -- 4/3 standard).
  3. Review the required antenna height for line-of-sight clearance and horizon distances from both ends.
  4. Increase antenna height or reduce path length if required height exceeds tower constraints.

How the result changes with Target Distance

Target DistanceRequired Tower HeightTotal LOS Distance
5080.46 m50 km
1751,544.5 m175 km
3255,729.94 m325 km
45011,241.65 m450 km

What each input means

Target Distance
Desired line-of-sight coverage distance in kilometers
Remote Antenna Height
Height of the remote/client antenna above ground in meters
K-Factor (Earth Radius)
Effective earth radius factor (standard atmosphere: 4/3 ≈ 1.333)

How this is calculated

Formula

h = d² / (2 × k × R_earth)

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Target Distance = 20, Remote Antenna Height = 10, K-Factor (Earth Radius) = 1.333 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Required Tower Height
    Required Tower Height
    2.86 = 2.86
  3. Calculate Total LOS Distance
    Total LOS Distance
    20 = 20
  4. Calculate Tower Horizon Distance
    Tower Horizon Distance
    6.97 = 6.97
  5. Calculate Remote Horizon Distance
    Remote Horizon Distance
    13.03 = 13.03

Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

Related Calculators

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

RF & Antenna

Fresnel Zone Calculator

Calculate Fresnel zone clearance radius for wireless link design. Includes earth curvature bulge and minimum antenna height.

RF & Antenna

Free Space Path Loss Calculator

Calculate free space path loss (FSPL) from distance and frequency. Includes received signal power estimation.

RF & Antenna

Dipole Antenna Length Calculator

Calculate half-wave dipole element length from target frequency. Includes quarter-wave, full-wave, and 5/8-wave lengths.

Amateur Radio

Repeater Coverage Calculator

Estimate repeater coverage radius from antenna height, power, terrain type, and mobile antenna parameters.

Wind Energy

Tower Height Optimization Calculator

Calculate wind speed and power increase from a taller tower.

More in Technology & Computing.