Canning at 1,001 ft to 3,000 ft
BWB +5 min · dial 12.0 psi · weighted 15.0 psi
The numbers
- Elevation
- 1,001–3,000 ft (306–914 m)
- BWB add
- +5 minutes (recipes ≤20 min original time)
- Dial gauge
- 12.0 psi
- Weighted gauge
- 15.0 psi
How to apply this
At 1,001–3,000 ft water boils 1–3 °F lower than at sea level, so BWB recipes need +5 minutes added when the original processing time is 20 minutes or less. For original times longer than 20 minutes, add 10 minutes instead (USDA Guide 1, Table 3). Pressure-canner adjustments split inside this band: dial-gauge canners use 11 psi from 1,001–2,000 ft and 12 psi from 2,001–3,000 ft. The 12 psi value listed here is the conservative (safer) value for the whole band — using 12 psi at 1,500 ft is safe, just slightly over-pressurized. Weighted-gauge canners switch to the 15-lb weight for any elevation above 1,000 ft (USDA Guide 1, Table 2).
Example cities in this band
- Atlanta, GA (1,050 ft)
- Phoenix, AZ (1,086 ft)
- Lincoln, NE (1,166 ft)
- Wichita, KS (1,299 ft)
- Spokane, WA (1,843 ft)
- Tucson, AZ (2,389 ft)
- Boise, ID (2,730 ft)
- Kalispell, MT (2,956 ft)
City elevations refer to the official downtown / metro center. Hillside neighborhoods can sit one band higher; verify with a USGS map if you live above the city center.
Pickle recipes adjusted for 1,001 ft to 3,000 ft
- Quick Fresh-Pack Dill Pickles — pints process 15 min at this altitude (sea-level recipe: 10 min)
- Pickled Dilled Beans (Dilly Beans) — pints process 10 min at this altitude (sea-level recipe: 5 min)
- Pickled Beets — pints process 35 min at this altitude (sea-level recipe: 30 min)
All altitude bands
- Sea level to 1,000 ft
- 1,001 ft to 3,000 ft (current)
- 3,001 ft to 6,000 ft
- 6,001 ft to 8,000 ft
- 8,001 ft to 10,000 ft
Source
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning — Guide 1, Tables 1, 2, 3. Information provided for educational purposes — verify against the current USDA / NCHFP guidance before canning. Last verified 2026-04-30.