The metacentric height is normally estimated during the design of a ship but can be determined by an inclining test once it has been built.

An inclining test had been carried out at Portsmouth on 29 July 1870 to allow the ship's stability characteristics to be calculated.

Inclining test procedures are specified by the International Maritime Organization and other international associations.

The inclining test is usually done inshore in calm weather, in still water, and free of mooring restraints to achieve accuracy.

The metacentric height (GM), which dominates stability, can be estimated from the design, but an accurate value must be determined by an inclining test.

An inclining test is a test performed on a ship to determine its stability, lightship weight and the coordinates of its center of gravity.