Car Jump Distance Calculator — Ramp Launch Physics
Enter the car's speed at the ramp lip, the ramp angle and the ramp height above the landing surface to get the horizontal jump distance, peak height and air time — all calculated with standard projectile-motion physics.
km/h
°
m
Horizontal distance from ramp lip to landing point
- 1
Speed in m/s
80 ÷ 3.6 = 22.2222 - 2
Horizontal velocity vx
22.2222 × cos(15°) = 21.465 - 3
Vertical velocity vy
22.2222 × sin(15°) = 5.7515 - 4
Air time T
(5.7515 + √(5.7515² + 2 × 9.81 × 1.5)) ÷ 9.81 = 1.3922From vertical equation of motion y = h + vy·t − ½g·t² = 0 - 5
Jump distance
21.465 × 1.3922 = 29.88
How does this calculator work?
Convert the launch speed to m/s (÷ 3.6) and split into vx = v·cos θ and vy = v·sin θ. Air time T = (vy + √(vy² + 2g·h₀)) / g; jump distance R = vx·T; peak height H = h₀ + vy²/(2g). Uses g = 9.81 m/s², ignores drag and car size. At 80 km/h, 15° ramp angle and 1.5 m height, a car jumps roughly 35–40 m.
Formula
How this is calculated
The model treats the car as a point mass launched from the ramp lip — a standard projectile-motion problem. The launch speed in km/h is converted to m/s by dividing by 3.6, then split into a horizontal component vx = v·cos θ and a vertical component vy = v·sin θ, where θ is the ramp angle. Gravitational acceleration is g = 9.81 m/s².
Time of flight is found by solving the vertical equation of motion for the moment the car returns to the landing surface (y = 0): T = (vy + √(vy² + 2g·h₀)) / g, where h₀ is the ramp height above the landing surface. Maximum height above the landing surface is H = h₀ + vy²/(2g). The jump distance is R = vx·T, and landing speed combines the constant horizontal velocity with the final vertical velocity.
This model assumes a rigid flat landing surface at the same elevation as the ramp base and ignores aerodynamic drag, the physical length of the car and any pitch rotation during flight. Real car jumps tend to be slightly shorter (drag) and the exact landing angle matters for landing dynamics — which this calculator does not model.
Frequently asked questions
A steeper ramp converts more speed into upward velocity, increasing air time but reducing horizontal speed. For a launch from height, the optimal angle for maximum range is below 45°. Most car stunt ramps use 10–20° to keep the vehicle stable and maximise forward distance.
No — it uses ideal projectile motion with no drag. For typical car stunt speeds (60–120 km/h) over short distances (10–60 m), the drag correction is a few percent, so the estimate is close but real distances will be slightly shorter.
It is the vertical distance from the landing surface to the ramp lip where the car leaves the ramp. A raised ramp adds extra air time — even at 0° launch angle the car will still travel forward before landing.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Car Jump Distance Calculator — Ramp Launch Physics [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-jump-distance-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Car Jump Distance Calculator — Ramp Launch Physics." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-jump-distance-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Car Jump Distance Calculator — Ramp Launch Physics," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-jump-distance-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_car_jump_distance_calculator, title = {Car Jump Distance Calculator — Ramp Launch Physics}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/car-jump-distance-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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