Elevation API

Point lookups and path elevation profiles for any location on Earth

Get altitude for any coordinate on Earth — single points or full profiles.

See it in action Get API Key

How it works

1

Send a coordinate

Pass a lat/lng pair or an array for path profiles.

2

Plaza looks it up

Global DEM coverage with fast point and path queries.

3

Get elevation

Meters above sea level, plus ascent/descent for profiles.

See it in action

A real API request, visualized.

terminal
$ 

          

        

        
        

      

    

  







  

    
Who uses this

    

      Teams building with Elevation API.
    

    

      

  

    

      

        
      

      
Fitness apps

    

    
Show elevation gain for running and cycling routes.

  



  

    

      

        
      

      
Aviation

    

    
Terrain clearance checks for drone flight planning.

  



  

    

      

        
      

      
Construction

    

    
Grade assessment and earthwork volume estimation.

  



    

  







  

    

      

        
Global

        
DEM coverage

      

        
2

        
Endpoints

      

        
<50ms

        
p95 latency

      

    

  










  

    
Start building


    

      
    


    

      
curl "https://plaza.fyi/api/v1/elevation?lat=46.818&lng=8.228"


    


    
    

      
        View endpoints
        
      
      

        

          
            

              
                Method
              
              
                Path
              
              
                Description
              
            

          
          
            

              
                
                  GET
                
              
              /api/v1/elevation
              
                Elevation for a single coordinate
              
            

              
                
                  POST
                
              
              /api/v1/elevation/profile
              
                Elevation profile along a path with ascent/descent
              
            

          
        

      

    

  







  

    
How it compares

    

      

        

          Google: $5/1K requests
        

        

          Plaza: from $1.50/1K
        

      

        

          Mapbox: Tilequery workaround only
        

        

          Plaza: Dedicated elevation endpoint with profiles
        

      

        

          Open-Elevation: self-host, limited coverage
        

        

          Plaza: Managed, global coverage
        

      

    

  







  

    
Common questions

    

      

        
          How accurate is Plaza's elevation data?
          
        
        

          
Accuracy varies by terrain and region. Flat areas are typically accurate within a few meters. Mountainous terrain has wider margins due to DEM resolution limitations.

        

      

    

  







  

    
Try it yourself

    

      
      
        Read the docs