Oven Temp
370°F
Altitude
5,000–7,000 ft
Sugar
0.88 cups
Adjustments apply above 3,000 ft. Denver is 5,280 ft.
| Altitude | Sugar | Liquid | Leavening | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000–5,000 ft | –1 tbsp/cup | +2 tbsp/cup | –0.125 tsp/tsp | +15°F |
| 5,000–7,000 ft | –2 tbsp/cup | +3 tbsp/cup | –0.1875 tsp/tsp | +20°F |
| 7,000–9,000 ft | –3 tbsp/cup | +4 tbsp/cup | –0.25 tsp/tsp | +25°F |
| 9,000+ ft | –3 tbsp/cup | +4 tbsp/cup | –0.25 tsp/tsp | +25°F |
Inputs
Result
At 5,000–7,000 ft: reduce sugar by 2 tbsp (0.88 cups), add 2 tbsp flour per cup (2.13 cups), increase liquid by 3 tbsp (1.19 cups), reduce leavening by 3/16 tsp (0.81 tsp), raise oven temp by 20°F (370°F).
Inputs
Result
At 7,000–9,000 ft: reduce sugar by 3 tbsp/cup (2.25 tbsp total), add 2 tbsp flour/cup (3 tbsp total), increase liquid by 4 tbsp/cup (2 tbsp total), reduce leavening by 1/4 tsp/tsp (0.5 tsp total), raise temp by 25°F.
Inputs
Result
At 3,000–5,000 ft: reduce sugar by 1 tbsp/cup (1.5 tbsp total), flour unchanged (no increase below 5,000 ft), increase liquid by 2 tbsp/cup (0.5 tbsp total), reduce leavening by 1/8 tsp/tsp (0.125 tsp total), raise temp by 15°F.
At elevations above 3,000 feet, lower air pressure causes gases to expand more, liquids to evaporate faster, and leavening agents to work more aggressively. This can cause cakes to rise too quickly and then collapse, cookies to spread excessively, and breads to over-proof.
| Factor | Sea Level | 5,000 ft | 7,000 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pressure | 14.7 psi | 12.2 psi | 11.3 psi |
| Boiling Point | 212°F | 203°F | 199°F |
| Gas Expansion | Baseline | +20–30% | +30–50% |
| Evaporation | Normal | Faster | Much faster |
At 3,000–5,000 feet, reduce sugar by 1 tbsp per cup, increase liquid by 2 tbsp per cup, reduce baking powder by 1/8 tsp per tsp, and raise oven temp by 15°F. At 5,000–7,000 feet, adjustments increase: reduce sugar by 2 tbsp, add 3 tbsp liquid, reduce leavening by 3/16 tsp, add 2 tbsp flour per cup, and raise temp by 20°F.
Not all recipes need the same level of adjustment. Cakes and quick breads are most affected because they rely heavily on chemical leavening. Yeast breads need less adjustment since yeast self-regulates. Cookies may only need slightly less sugar and a higher oven temp.
Denver is at 5,280 feet (1,609 m), commonly called the Mile High City. Other notable high-altitude cities include Albuquerque at 5,312 ft, Salt Lake City at 4,226 ft, Colorado Springs at 6,035 ft, Flagstaff at 6,910 ft, and Santa Fe at 7,199 ft.
At high altitude, water boils at a lower temperature, which directly affects candy making. For every 500 feet above sea level, reduce the target temperature by about 1°F. At 5,000 feet, soft ball stage is 225°F instead of 235°F. Always use a candy thermometer and test with cold water.
Read our guide
Read our guide
Read our guide
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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