Inches Per Foot to Degrees Calculator

Convert slope from inches per foot to degrees instantly. Perfect for roofers, carpenters, civil engineers, and DIY builders.

Slope Converter:

Inches per foot describes rise over 12 inches of run. This calculator converts that slope measurement to angular degrees using trigonometry.

Inches/Foot to Degrees

Enter slope in inches per foot

Formula: Degrees = arctan(inches ÷ 12)

Calculation Results

Enter slope value

then click "Calculate" for results

How to Convert Inches Per Foot to Degrees

In construction and roofing, slope is often described as "inches per foot." For example, a 4-in-12 slope means the surface rises 4 inches for every 12 inches (1 foot) of horizontal run. Engineers and designers sometimes need the angle in degrees instead, which requires a bit of trigonometry.

The conversion uses the arctangent function. First, divide the rise by the run. Since one foot equals 12 inches, the formula becomes:

Inches/Foot to Degrees
Slope Ratio = Inches ÷ 12
Degrees = arctan(Slope Ratio)
Degrees to Inches/Foot
Slope Ratio = tan(Degrees)
Inches per Foot = Slope Ratio × 12

Example Calculation

Problem: Convert a 6-in-12 roof pitch to degrees.
Step 1: Calculate slope ratio: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5
Step 2: Apply arctan: arctan(0.5) = 26.565°
Result: A 6-in-12 pitch equals approximately 26.57°

Inches Per Foot to Degrees Reference Table

Here's a quick reference table showing common slope conversions:

Inches/Foot Slope Ratio Percent Degrees
1 0.083 8.33% 4.76°
2 0.167 16.67% 9.46°
3 0.25 25.00% 14.04°
4 0.333 33.33% 18.43°
5 0.417 41.67% 22.62°
6 0.5 50.00% 26.57°
7 0.583 58.33% 30.26°
8 0.667 66.67% 33.69°
9 0.75 75.00% 36.87°
10 0.833 83.33% 39.81°
11 0.917 91.67% 42.51°
12 1.0 100.00% 45.00°
14 1.167 116.67% 49.40°
16 1.333 133.33% 53.13°
18 1.5 150.00% 56.31°
20 1.667 166.67% 59.04°
24 2.0 200.00% 63.43°
30 2.5 250.00% 68.20°
36 3.0 300.00% 71.57°
48 4.0 400.00% 75.96°
Pro Tip:

A 12-in-12 slope equals exactly 45 degrees because the rise equals the run. Steeper slopes have higher inch-per-foot values and approach 90 degrees as the ratio increases. For roof pitch, most residential roofs fall between 4/12 and 12/12.