Kayaking Calculators
Free kayaking calculators: paddle length by height and style, hull speed, stroke rate, trip distance, calorie burn, and more tools.
Paddle sizing, hull speed, trip planning and load limits. 11 calculators for sea, touring and whitewater boats. Powerboats and sail sit under Boating and Sailing.
Paddle length reads from a grid of paddler height against boat width, and the grid tells on itself if you look closely. The top two height bands hold identical values, which is the table admitting that standing height stops predicting much past about 185 cm. What really decides paddle length is torso length. Two paddlers who both measure 188 cm can differ by 10 cm in seated height, and that is a whole size. Sit on the floor, measure from the seat to your shoulder, and adjust from the grid instead of trusting it blindly.
Hull speed is honest about where its own formula stops working. It is a wave-making limit borrowed from displacement sailboat design, and it assumes you have the power to reach it. A 2.5 m playboat calculates out at 7.1 km/h, and nobody paddles a playboat at 7.1 km/h. Below roughly 4 m the number is trivia. Above 5 m it is a real ceiling.
Trip planning here assumes 60 to 75% of hull speed at comfortable effort.
Kayak Ferry Angle Calculator
Calculate the angle needed to paddle across a moving current without being swept downstream. Enter current speed and paddle speed to get your ferry angle.
River Gradient Calculator
Calculate river gradient in feet per mile from elevation and distance. Matches gradient to whitewater difficulty class from Class I to Class VI.
Sea Kayak Cargo Volume Calculator
Calculate sea kayak cargo capacity from hatch sizes, then check it against the gear volume a real trip needs for one paddler or for a loaded tandem.
Kayak Hull Speed Calculator
Calculate the theoretical hull speed of your kayak from its waterline length. Understand why longer kayaks are faster and plan your paddling effort.
Kayak Load Capacity Calculator
Calculate safe kayak load from rated capacity, paddler and gear weight in kg or lb. Separates the 75% comfort load from the manufacturer maximum.
Kayak Paddle Length Calculator: Find Your Size by Height
Find your kayak paddle length from height, kayak width and paddling style, with the sizing grid the numbers come from and a torso-length caveat.
Kayak Stroke Rate and Speed Calculator
Calculate kayak speed from stroke rate, paddle length, and efficiency factor. Returns km/h and mph plus the effect of stroke rate on paddling performance.
Kayak Tidal Current Effect Calculator
Calculate how tidal current affects your kayak speed and course. Find your actual speed over ground when paddling with or against a current.
Kayak Trip Distance Calculator
Plan your kayaking trip. Calculate distance you can paddle in a given time at your cruising speed, accounting for breaks and tides.
Kayak Wind Resistance Calculator
Calculate kayak wind drag from wind speed and heading, including apparent wind at your paddling speed, the extra watts it costs, and the Beaufort force.
Kayaking Calories Burned Calculator
Calculate calories burned kayaking from body weight, duration, and intensity. Covers flat water, touring, sea kayaking, and whitewater with MET estimates.