Altitude to Oxygen Chart

At real altitude, the barometric pressure of the atmosphere is significantly less than that of sea-level environments. The result is that oxygen molecules in the air are further apart, reducing the oxygen content of each breath incrementally as one goes up in altitude. The reduction of oxygen availability in the air thus reduces the oxygen saturation in the blood and brains of unacclimatized people introduced to the environment. This is why people traveling from sea-level often feel pretty lousy for at least the first week when they arrive at high elevation destinations. At its extreme, this desaturation of oxygen is what leads people to experience Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which is an incredibly dangerous condition. To avoid these negative implications of rapid introduction to altitude, we recommend people employ a “pre-acclimatization” strategy at home to prepare their bodies ahead of the altitude exposure.

The change in barometric pressure at real altitude is what scientists call “hypobaric hypoxia.” At Hypoxico, instead of changing the barometric pressure of an environment, we decrease the oxygen percentage of the air available to users to simulate high altitude desaturation. That is called “normobaric hypoxia,” and it’s been shown to be very effective in mimicking high altitude and eliciting the performance, acclimatization, and general health adaptations inherent to high altitude exposure. By controlling the percentage of oxygen in each breath, users can desaturate in a very controlled and strategic way so they can meet their goals. Again, this desaturation of oxygen from the blood and brain is what kicks on the adaptive response in the body, and by incrementally introducing the stimulus, users at sea-level can arrive at real altitude with little to no ill-effects. Our chart will help you find the oxygen levels by elevation for many common altitudes.

Below is an altitude oxygen chart that extrapolates oxygen percentages to real altitude, which you can use in conjunction with Hypoxico systems. This chart will help you find oxygen levels at altitudes you are interested in, starting with the oxygen content of the air at sea level. You can consult with a Hypoxico representative if you have questions about the true altitude you are simulating. You can also see real-world cities that correspond with the simulated altitude at various oxygen percentage thresholds.

Download and save your own copy of the Hypoxico altitude to oxygen chart:

Hypoxico Altitude To Oxygen Chart (.pdf)

You can also download the altitude to oxygen chart in an excel format where you can input your current elevation to get the corresponding percentages for your elevation:

Hypoxico Altitude To Oxygen Chart (.xls)