Inclinometers are used for measuring the angle of slope, elevation, and depression of an object with respect to gravity and the direction of the object.

Clinometers measure both inclines (positive slopes, as seen by an observer looking upwards) and declines (negative slopes, as seen by an observer looking downward) using two different metrics: roll and pitch.

The roll metric measures the rotation of the object around the axis perpendicular to the device screen.

The pitch metric measures the angle between a plane perpendicular to the device's screen and a plane parallel to the ground.

The device's screen must be held perpendicular to the floor for accurate results.