Antenna Downtilt Calculator
Set tilt so coverage reaches the edge without overshooting.
Your numbers
Your results
Beam centre hits ground at (m)
Beam centre hits ground at (m)
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Upper 3 dB edge reaches (m)
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Lower 3 dB edge at (m)
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Tilt to put the beam centre at the radius (°)
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Tilt to put the upper 3 dB edge at the radius (°)
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Antenna Downtilt Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Antenna Downtilt Calculator works
Enter the antenna height, the total tilt and the vertical 3 dB beamwidth.
The beam centre hits the ground at distance h ÷ tan(tilt).
The upper and lower edges use tilt ∓ half the beamwidth.
The formula
d_centre = h ÷ tan θd_upper = h ÷ tan(θ − BW/2)
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Antenna height above ground (m) | 30 |
|---|---|
| Total downtilt: mechanical + electrical (°) | 6 |
| Vertical beamwidth (3 dB, °) | 6.5 |
| Target cell radius (m) | 800 |
- Beam centre at 6° from 30 m: 30 ÷ tan 6° = 285 m.
- Upper 3 dB edge reaches 625 m; lower edge 184 m.
- For an 800 m radius the beam centre needs 2.1° and the upper edge needs 5.4°.
Result:
| Beam centre hits ground at (m) | 285 |
|---|---|
| Upper 3 dB edge reaches (m) | 625 |
| Lower 3 dB edge at (m) | 184 |
| Tilt to put the beam centre at the radius (°) | 2.1 |
| Tilt to put the upper 3 dB edge at the radius (°) | 5.4 |
Frequently asked questions
Which tilt should I choose for a target radius?
Planners often put the upper 3 dB edge near the planned cell edge, so overshoot beyond is limited. The ‘upper edge’ tilt answers this.
Does it include terrain?
No. Flat ground is assumed. Hills and building heights change the effective tilt.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.