Approach/Departure/Breakover Angle Calculator

Approach angle is the maximum angle of a ramp that a vehicle can climb from a horizontal plane without the front bumper or undercarriage scraping. It's measured from the front tire contact point to the lowest point of the front overhang. See also our Fender Trimming Calculator.

Departure angle is the maximum angle a vehicle can descend without the rear bumper or undercarriage hitting the ground. It's measured from the rear tire contact point to the lowest point of the rear overhang.

Breakover angle is the maximum angle that a vehicle can drive over (like a hill crest) without the undercarriage touching the ground. It depends on the wheelbase and ground clearance of the vehicle.

Approach and departure angles use arctangent of ground clearance divided by overhang length. Breakover angle uses the formula: 2 × arctan(2 × ground clearance / wheelbase). All results are converted to degrees. You might also find our Snorkel Height Calculator useful.

These angles determine a vehicle's off-road capability. Higher angles mean better ability to navigate steep inclines, declines, and obstacles without damaging the vehicle's undercarriage or bumpers.

Good off-road vehicles typically have approach angles of 25-40°, departure angles of 20-35°, and breakover angles of 15-25°. Rock crawlers and specialized off-road vehicles often exceed these ranges.

You can improve angles by increasing ground clearance with a lift kit, shortening overhangs with aftermarket bumpers, or installing skid plates. However, these modifications may affect other vehicle characteristics.