Contour Interval Calculator

Select terrain type and map scale to find the recommended contour interval, or enter elevation range to compute the number of contour lines.

Recommended Contour Interval
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Number of Contours
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Index Contour Interval
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Elevation Range
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Supplementary CI
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Contour Interval Guidelines

The contour interval depends on the map scale and terrain relief. Flat terrain requires smaller intervals for detail, while mountainous terrain uses larger intervals to avoid overcrowding. Index contours (typically every 5th line) are drawn thicker for easy reading.

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