Abstract This work investigates the stagnation pressure gain in rotating detonation combustors (RDC) and its dependency on the geometry and mass flux of the combustor. Using a Kiel probe to directly measure stagnation pressure in the high-enthalpy exhaust stream, results are presented for a systematic variation of these parameters. The best-performing configuration achieved a pressure gain of −8%. A comparison with thrust-based equivalent available pressure data from literature shows that the Kiel probe measurements are in good agreement. It is observed that pressure gain increases with increasing air injector area, decreasing outlet throat area, increasing combustor mass flux, and is seen to be dependent on the operating mode. The data are then used to obtain an empirical model that describes pressure gain as a function of the three variables of injector area ratio, outlet area ratio, and combustor mass flux. The model is compared with measurements in this combustor and others, and is used to predict the pressure gain boundaries and to assess design corridors that potentially achieve positive pressure gain.