BMX Jump Calculator
Calculate BMX jump height and distance from ramp angle and exit speed.
Find your air time, peak height, and landing distance for any ramp setup.
A BMX jump follows projectile motion physics once the rider leaves the ramp. Gravity pulls the rider down at 9.81 m/s² (32.2 ft/s²) while their horizontal velocity carries them forward. The ramp angle splits the exit speed into vertical and horizontal components.
Vertical component: v_y = v x sin(θ) Horizontal component: v_x = v x cos(θ)
From these, three key numbers follow:
Max height above the lip: h = v_y² / (2g) Air time (full flight): t = 2 x v_y / g Horizontal distance: d = v_x x t
A 45° ramp maximizes distance for a given speed — the classic range-maximizing angle from physics class. But BMX riders rarely use 45° because it also creates the most vertical clearance requirement and makes tricks harder to rotate. Real ramps typically run 30-40° for street and 60-70° for vert.
Speed matters enormously. Doubling exit speed quadruples both height and distance — they scale with v². Shaving even 5 mph off approach speed dramatically shortens the jump.
Real-world caveats: this calculator assumes the takeoff and landing are at the same elevation, no wind, and no air resistance. In practice, downward-sloping landing zones (common in BMX park design) let riders safely land longer distances than the flat-ground formula would predict. Wind opposing the jump can cut distance noticeably at speed. The rider’s body position after the lip also affects aerodynamics slightly at high speeds.
This tool is for educational and planning purposes. Always assess jumps in person before riding — terrain, ramp condition, and speed vary considerably.