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Tide Height Estimator

Compare a fractional rule-of-twelfths interpolation between entered same-station tide events with an entered official height.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Same-station/same-datum entered low and following high event heights, actual low-to-high interval, elapsed time and an official comparison height
Output to expect
Fractional twelfths interpolation, normalized phase and signed difference from the entered official prediction/observation
How it works
Interpolates continuously across the entered event interval; it never predicts a station tide, observed water level, charted depth, current or under-keel clearance
  • Verify station, event date, time zone, datum, units and official prediction/observation; do not mix subordinate/reference stations or unrelated high/low events.
  • For navigation, use current official predictions/observations, charts/notices/weather and vessel draft/squat/heel margins with qualified practices—never this interpolation alone.

Choose your path

Built around the job you need to finish

Compare a fractional approximation between entered official same-station tide events with an entered official prediction or observation without making a tide/navigation claim.

Boater reviewing one rising-tide interval

Keep station, datum, date, time zone and actual event interval aligned.

Enter the official low/following-high events, elapsed time and an official comparison height.

Sees the interpolation difference without treating it as an official prediction.

Planner checking a rule-of-twelfths worksheet

Avoid whole-hour rounding and a fixed six-hour assumption.

Use the actual event interval and inspect the fractional normalized phase.

Can reproduce the approximation and compare it with the station product.

Navigator evaluating depth or clearance

Keep water-level arithmetic below current official navigation evidence.

Use official predictions/observations, charts/notices/weather and vessel draft/squat/heel margins externally.

Never navigates or claims clearance from the interpolation.

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Reference & details

How it works

Fractional Event-Interval Arithmetic

The entered elapsed time is normalized across the actual entered low-to-high interval, then linearly interpolated between cumulative 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 11 and 12 twelfths rather than rounded to a whole hour.

Aligned Station, Datum and Events

Low, following high and comparison heights must share station, datum, units and event date/time-zone context. The tool does not retrieve or generate official predictions.

Official-Product Boundary

NOAA harmonic predictions use station-specific constituents. This approximation is compared with an entered official value and cannot determine observed water level, current, charted depth or under-keel clearance.

Updated: August 2026

Example Scenarios

Reproduce a rule-of-twelfths worksheet from one official low event, its following high event and their actual time interval.

Evaluate a half-hour or other fractional point continuously instead of silently rounding it to a whole twelfths hour.

Compare the approximate interpolated height with a station/date/time/datum-specific official prediction or observation entered from NOAA.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing stations, datums, time zones or nonconsecutive events

Use the same official station, datum, unit and time-zone basis for the low event, following high event and comparison height; verify the exact date and event order.

Using the interpolation for navigation or clearance

Use current official predictions/observations, charts, notices and weather plus vessel draft, squat, heel and conservative margins. This approximation cannot establish depth or under-keel clearance.

FAQ

Its arithmetic is reproducible and preserves fractional time, but real tide curves are station-specific harmonic predictions and observed water levels also vary with conditions. Use the difference from the official value as the useful output.

It uses a piecewise-linear rule-of-twelfths approximation normalized to the entered event interval. NOAA source links explain station, datum, time-zone and harmonic prediction context.

Yes, 100% free with no hidden fees or registration required. All calculations run instantly in your browser with total data privacy.

Yes, you can copy results to your clipboard, export formatted Markdown summaries, or generate a print-ready report directly from the tool.

Review NOAA Tide Predictions Help, the CO-OPS Data API and NOAA harmonic-constituent guidance in the authority panel.

About Tide Height Estimator

Interpolate one entered rising-tide event interval and compare it with an entered official station value. This is a transparent approximation—not an official prediction or navigation tool.