High Jump: calculate leap height and reach separately

SRD 5.2.1 · Movement

At the table

1. After at least 10 feet on foot immediately before the jump, leap 3 plus Strength modifier feet, minimum zero.
2. A standing High Jump reaches half that leap height.
3. Each foot jumped costs movement; reaching upward adds one and a half times the character’s height to the leap height.

Example decision

A 6-foot-tall character with Strength modifier +2 has a qualifying running start and enough movement. What is the highest reach described by the rule?

14 feet: 5 feet of jump plus 9 feet of reach.

The running leap is 3 + 2 = 5 feet. The character can extend their arms half their height above themselves, making reach height one and a half times 6, or 9 feet. Added to the leap, that is 14 feet. Reaching a ledge and successfully holding it may still involve the actual situation.

Watch for this mistake

Do not use the full Strength score for High Jump; that belongs to the Long Jump distance rule. A running start and the jump still consume movement.

Ask the table

What are the leap height, upward reach and movement budget for this attempt?

Source rule

When you make a High Jump, you leap into the air a number of feet equal to 3 plus your Strength modifier (minimum of 0 feet) if you move at least 10 feet on foot immediately before the jump. When you make a standing High Jump, you can jump only half that distance. Either way, each foot of the jump costs a foot of movement. You can extend your arms half your height above yourself during the jump. Thus, you can reach a distance equal to the height of the jump plus 1½ times your height.

Source: SRD 5.2.1, 183. Online guide.