Hard ball Stage Temperature
250–265°F
at sea level · 92% sugar
In cold water: a hard ball
Used for nougat, marshmallows, gummies, divinity, rock candy.
Source: Exploratorium: Science of Cooking — sugar stages. Checked Oct 13, 2026.
Hard ball at your altitude
Sea level250–265°F
1,000 ft248–263°F
2,000 ft246–261°F
3,000 ft244–259°F
4,000 ft242–257°F
5,000 ft240–255°F
6,000 ft238–253°F
7,000 ft236–251°F
8,000 ft234–249°F
Lowered 1°F per 500 ft, per the Exploratorium. For an exact offset, boil water, note your thermometer reading, and subtract the difference from 212°F. Find your boiling point.