Paris Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
One of the world's three largest marathons, starting down the Champs-Élysées and looping east through the Bois de Vincennes before returning along the Seine to finish on Avenue Foch near the Arc de Triomphe. The summary profile reads gentle, but the riverside underpasses near km 25 and the late rise toward the Bois de Boulogne add grade changes the totals never show. Crowds are enormous and the field skews first-timer friendly.
The Paris Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change — rated 2/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 940 ft (290 m) and loses 910 ft (280 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 39 (near mile 24), demanding about 11% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 6.7%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Paris, FR |
| Total ascent | 940 ft (290 m) |
| Total descent | 910 ft (280 m) |
| Net elevation | +30 ft (+9 m) |
| Steepest grade | 6.7% |
| Difficulty | 2/5 |
| Field size | ≈55,000 runners |
| Race day | Early April |
Kilometre-by-kilometre splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill kilometres get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:30 | 8:51 | -19 ft (-6 m) | 5:30 |
| 2 | 6:02 | 9:43 | +38 ft (+12 m) | 11:33 |
| 3 | 5:40 | 9:07 | +1 ft (0 m) | 17:13 |
| 4 | 5:14 | 8:25 | -50 ft (-15 m) | 22:26 |
| 5 | 6:17 | 10:07 | +58 ft (+18 m) | 28:44 |
| 6 | 5:28 | 8:48 | -22 ft (-7 m) | 34:12 |
| 7 | 5:34 | 8:58 | -10 ft (-3 m) | 39:46 |
| 8 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -1 ft (0 m) | 45:25 |
| 9 | 6:06 | 9:49 | +46 ft (+14 m) | 51:31 |
| 10 | 5:47 | 9:18 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 57:18 |
| 11 | 5:19 | 8:34 | -42 ft (-13 m) | 1:02:38 |
| 12 | 5:53 | 9:28 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 1:08:31 |
| 13 | 5:27 | 8:46 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 1:13:57 |
| 14 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:19:38 |
| 15 | 5:56 | 9:33 | +28 ft (+9 m) | 1:25:34 |
| 16 | 5:37 | 9:03 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 1:31:12 |
| 17 | 6:09 | 9:54 | +47 ft (+14 m) | 1:37:21 |
| 18 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -9 ft (-3 m) | 1:42:58 |
| 19 | 5:22 | 8:38 | -33 ft (-10 m) | 1:48:20 |
| 20 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 1:53:53 |
| 21 | 5:29 | 8:49 | -21 ft (-6 m) | 1:59:21 |
| 22 | 5:44 | 9:14 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 2:05:06 |
| 23 | 5:25 | 8:44 | -27 ft (-8 m) | 2:10:31 |
| 24 | 5:54 | 9:29 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 2:16:25 |
| 25 | 5:29 | 8:49 | -21 ft (-6 m) | 2:21:53 |
| 26 | 5:20 | 8:34 | -38 ft (-12 m) | 2:27:13 |
| 27 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -1 ft (0 m) | 2:32:52 |
| 28 | 5:40 | 9:08 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:38:33 |
| 29 | 5:52 | 9:27 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 2:44:25 |
| 30 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:50:04 |
| 31 | 5:30 | 8:51 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 2:55:34 |
| 32 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 3:01:15 |
| 33 | 6:06 | 9:48 | +43 ft (+13 m) | 3:07:20 |
| 34 | 5:51 | 9:24 | +18 ft (+6 m) | 3:13:11 |
| 35 | 5:19 | 8:34 | -41 ft (-12 m) | 3:18:30 |
| 36 | 5:45 | 9:15 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 3:24:16 |
| 37 | 6:03 | 9:44 | +38 ft (+12 m) | 3:30:18 |
| 38 | 5:43 | 9:11 | +5 ft (+2 m) | 3:36:01 |
| 39 | 5:50 | 9:23 | +15 ft (+5 m) | 3:41:51 |
| 40 | 6:17 | 10:07 | +61 ft (+19 m) | 3:48:08 |
| 41 | 5:45 | 9:15 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:53:52 |
| 42 | 4:57 | 7:57 | -85 ft (-26 m) | 3:58:49 |
| 42.2 | 6:35 | 10:36 | +17 ft (+5 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Paris Marathon flat or hilly?
The Paris Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change (2/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 940 ft (290 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Paris Marathon have?
About 940 ft (290 m) of total ascent and 910 ft (280 m) of descent, for a net change of +30 ft (9 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Paris Marathon course?
Kilometre 39 (near mile 24) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 11% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 6.7%.
When is the Paris Marathon?
The Paris Marathon is typically held in early April. The next edition is expected around April 5, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Paris Marathon?
The field is roughly 55,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Paris Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Paris race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Los Angeles Marathon — 940 ft (290 m) ascent
- Vancouver Marathon — 950 ft (290 m) ascent
- Barcelona Marathon — 920 ft (280 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/