⛰️ Vertical Exaggeration Calculator
Enter the horizontal and vertical scale of your cross-section (in the same real-world unit per drawn unit) to find the vertical exaggeration factor.
What this calculator does
In topographic profiles and geologic cross-sections, the vertical scale is often stretched relative to the horizontal scale to make elevation changes easier to see. Vertical exaggeration (VE) tells you by what factor that stretch happens.
How the calculation works
Enter the real-world distance represented by one drawn unit on the horizontal axis, and the real-world distance represented by one drawn unit on the vertical axis, using the same unit (for example, feet) for both. Vertical exaggeration equals the horizontal scale divided by the vertical scale: VE = Horizontal Scale ÷ Vertical Scale.
A VE of 1 means no exaggeration; a VE of 5 means vertical features look five times steeper than they really are. Always make sure both scale values use identical real-world units before comparing them.