List of tallest buildings in the United States


The world's first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885. Since then, the United States has been home to some of the world's tallest skyscrapers. New York City, specifically the borough of Manhattan, notably has the tallest skyline in the country. Eleven American buildings have held the title of tallest building in the world. New York City and Chicago have always been the centers of American skyscraper building. The 10-story Home Insurance Building, built in Chicago in 1885, is regarded as the world's first skyscraper; the building was constructed using a novel steel-loadbearing frame which became a standard of the industry worldwide.
Since its topping out in 2013, One World Trade Center in New York City has been the tallest skyscraper in the United States. Its spire brings the structure to a symbolic architectural height of, connoting the year the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed, though the absolute tip of the structure is measured at. However, the observation deck elevation and highest occupied floor of One World Trade Center are surpassed by 432 Park Avenue and Chicago's Willis Tower. Steinway Tower, and Central Park Tower will also have higher occupied floors and roofs upon their completion.
Prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, the twin towers of the World Trade Center occupied the second and third positions on the list below, behind Willis Tower. The North Tower stood at, while the South Tower was tall. If they were still standing today, they would occupy the seventh and eighth positions on the list below, with their replacement—One World Trade Center—being excluded.
There are numerous supertall buildings both proposed and under construction throughout the country, concentrated in New York City and Chicago. In New York City, Central Park Tower, 111 West 57th Street and One Vanderbilt are all currently under construction and topped out, and rise at least. Notable projects under construction in Chicago include Vista Tower, designed by Jeanne Gang, and NEMA Chicago, designed by Rafael Vinoly. Other tall buildings that are proposed include the One Bayfront Plaza, and the One Brickell City Centre in Miami.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks completed and topped-out buildings in the United States that stand at least tall, based on standard height measurement which includes spires and architectural details, but excludes antenna masts. An equal sign following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was or will be completed.
* Indicates building is still under construction, but has been topped out.

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

This lists ranks completed and topped out buildings in the United States that stand at least tall based on pinnacle height measurement, which includes antenna masts. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.
* Indicates building is still under construction, but has been topped out.

Cities with the most skyscrapers

American cities with at least 5 completed skyscrapers over high as of 2019.
RankCity≥≥≥≥≥≥TotalRef
1New York City128123264138266
2Chicago62882767118
3Miami0016123554
4Houston120881837
5Los Angeles201691129
6San Francisco102171223
7Seattle010331320
8Dallas01136819
9Boston000341118
10Atlanta10226617
11Philadelphia12132716
12Las Vegas00007714
13Jersey City00020911
14=Pittsburgh00113510
14=Sunny Isles Beach00005510
16=Minneapolis0003148
16=Denver0002338
18=Charlotte0011237
18=Detroit0001157
20=Austin0000235
20=Columbus0000145

Tallest under construction, approved and proposed

Under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in the United States and are planned to rise at least. Buildings that have already been topped out are excluded.
NameImageLocationHeight
ft 		FloorsYear*
Notes
2 World Trade CenterNew York City822022Would become the second-tallest building in the new World Trade Center complex upon completion; construction on hold as of January 2012 due to a lack of tenants. As of April 2015, Larry Silverstein was in talks with 21st Century Fox and News Corp to anchor the building. Bjarke Ingels had replaced Norman Foster as architect for the building, a decision which was later reversed.
45 Broad StreetNew York City682021Set to become the tallest residential building in Downtown Manhattan.
9 DeKalb AvenueNew York City732022Upon completion, 9 DeKalb Avenue will become New York City's tallest building outside of Manhattan, and give Brooklyn its first supertall skyscraper.
The SpiralNew York City66202134th Street and 10th Avenue, at the north end of the High Line. Almost every floor will have its own outdoor terrace.
50 Hudson YardsNew York City582022
3 Hudson BoulevardNew York City562021Formerly known as GiraSole
One Chicago East TowerChicago782022
One River Point Towers 1&2Miami602021Hotel/Residential complex consisting of twin condo towers. Construction began as of February 2018.
Hudson's Site DevelopmentDetroit622022Broke ground in December 2017 Estimated height increased October 2018
Oceanwide Center, Tower 1San Francisco752020Will be the second tallest building in San Francisco once completed, only behind the Salesforce Tower. Construction started December 2016.
NEMAChicago762019
Rainier Square TowerSeattle592019Proposed by Urban Visions and designed by NBBJ. Approved in 2015.
2 Manhattan WestNew York City592022
6 X GuadalupeAustin652022
Sutton 58New York City652021
Aston Martin ResidencesMiami662021Residential building in Miami under the Aston Martin brand name.
110 North Wacker DriveChicago512021Bank of America will be the building's anchor tenant.
Skyline TowerNew York City682021Also known as Court Square City View Tower. It will become the tallest building in Queens upon completion.
50 West 66th StreetNew York City522021Would become the tallest building in the Upper West Side upon completion.
Journal Squared Tower 2Jersey City702020
Queens Plaza ParkNew York City672021Will become the second tallest building in Queens upon completion. Foundations completed in December 2018.

* Table entries with dashes indicate that information regarding building dates of completion has not yet been released.

Approved and proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in the United States and are planned to rise at least. A floor count of 50 stories is used as the cutoff for buildings whose heights have not yet been released by their developers.
NameCityHeight
ft 		FloorsYear
Notes
Tower Fifth New York962024Tower Fifth is a slender office tower proposed by 432 Park Avenue developer Harry B. Macklowe of Macklowe Properties, would become the second tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere after One World Trade Center if completed as planned.
350 Park Avenue New YorkApproximately 722027350 Park Avenue has been quietly proposed by Vornado Realty Trust after a marketing brochure leaked renderings; the Foster and Partners-designed building would replace BlackRock's current headquarters after the company moves to 50 Hudson Yards in 2022.
80 South Street New York113—As of June 2019, the site is for sale after Chinese developer Oceanwide Holdings ran into financial difficulties
270 Park Avenue New York702024JPMorgan Chase plans to demolish & replace its headquarters; the new tower was approved by the New York City Council in May 2019.
Tribune East TowerChicago116—Would become the second-tallest building in Chicago upon completion.
15 Penn Plaza New York68—Proposed by Vornado prior to the financial crisis of 2007–2008; as of 2019 the developer is still seeking an anchor tenant to justify construction. New renderings leaked from a marketing brochure in June 2019 depict a tower around with a new design.
2901 Arch Street - Transit Terminal TowerPhiladelphia852025–28Proposed office and retail
Dallas Smart District TowerDallas782020sProposed office tower would be the tallest in Texas and tallest west of the Mississippi River.
333 South FigueroaLos Angeles77—Proposed hotel by Shenzhen New World Group, tallest proposed tower West of Mississippi River.
400 Lake Shore Drive South TowerChicago76—Currently stalled due to objections from Alderman Brendan Reilly.
520 West 41st Street New York106—Proposed in 2014 by World Trade Center developers Silverstein Properties but put on hold; new plans as of June 2019 depict a shorter two-towered development.
3101 Market Street Philadelphia702021–25Proposed residential, office, education, and retail
300 BiscayneMiami942020Announced in 2015. It will be one of the tallest buildings in Miami and the state of Florida.
One Bayfront PlazaMiami922020Announced in 2010. One Bayfront Plaza would be the tallest office tower in Miami and Florida.
SkyRise MiamiMiami—2020A vertical entertainment center in Miami. Site work has begun as of October 2018.
One Brickell City CentreMiami802020Proposed in November 2013 and approved in 2014 with estimated completion in 2020.
4/CSeattle99—Proposed in September 2015 by Crescent Heights, designed by LMN Architects
247 Cherry New York782021SHoP Architects building being developed by JDS Development Group. Initial plans revealed in April 2016 and approved by the City Planning Commission in December 2018.
262 Fifth Avenue New York54—First proposed in June 2016; as of June 2019 no site work has been completed and the developer has not released any updates.
Figueroa CentreLos Angeles662020sProposed residential, hotel, and retail - would become the third tallest building in Los Angeles.
Lakeshore East Building IChicago80—
625 Fulton Street New York792023Would be the second-tallest building in Brooklyn after 9 Dekalb.
520 Fifth Avenue New York71—There is a possibility that a crown element could bump the project above the 1000 ft. mark.
Angels Landing Tower 1Los Angeles642028Proposed Residential and office Tower designed by Peebles, MacFarlane, and Claridge Properties. Parcel is above Pershing Square Purple Line Metro Subway Station and Angels Knoll Park.
Olympia Tower 1Los Angeles652023Proposed hotel and residential 700 unit apartments.
400 Lake Shore Drive North TowerChicago652020Currently stalled due to objections from Alderman Brendan Reilly.
80 Flatbush New York74—Approved by the New York City Council in September 2018
1000MChicago74—Approved April 21, 2016.
113 East Roosevelt Chicago>>76—Approved November 19, 2015
Wolf Point South TowerChicago60—
1045 S. Olive StreetLos Angeles70—Proposed residential apartments developed by Crescent Heights.
Transbay Parcel FSan Francisco64—
30 Journal SquareJersey City72—Approved in August 2016.
260 South Street Tower I New York692021Approved by the City Planning Commission in December 2018.
Fifth & HillLos Angeles532023Designed by Arquitectonica, would rise next to Pershing Square.
321 East 96th Street New York682023Proposed by AvalonBay Communities, would become the tallest building in East Harlem.
Olympic and Hill TowerLos Angeles602022Proposed residential tower by ONNI Group.
5 World Trade Center New York42—Considered to be a stale proposal; also known as 130 Liberty Street.
Olympic TowerLos Angeles58—Replaces the car wash on corner of Fig and Olympic.
Figat7th TowerLos Angeles—642020sProposed office space
6AM North TowerLos Angeles582025Proposed hotel and residential in the Arts District. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
259 Clinton StreetNew York—2021Approved by the City Planning Commission in December 2018.
260 South Street Tower IINew York622021Approved by the City Planning Commission in December 2018.
City Lights TowerLos Angeles532025Replaces apartment completed in 2004, by TriCal.
1300 S. Figueroa TowersLos Angeles—532020LA Convention Center Hotel - Two Towers
1045 S. Olive StreetLos Angeles502020sProposed hotel and residential.
6AM South TowerLos Angeles502025Proposed hotel and residential.
One BromfieldBoston59–
The RepublicAustin482021
The Travis - Building IIAustin602021
130 North FranklinChicago48—
BMO TowerChicago502019

* Table entries with dashes indicate that information regarding building heights, floor counts or dates of completion has not yet been released.

Tallest destroyed

This table lists the 10 tallest buildings in the United States that have been demolished, destroyed, or are undergoing demolition.
NameImageCityHeight
ft 		FloorsYear
completed		Year
demolished		Notes
1 World Trade Center †New York City1,368 11019732001Destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks; tallest building in the world from 1973 until 1974.
2 World Trade CenterNew York City1,362 11019732001Destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
270 Park AvenueNew York City7075119612019-20Currently being demolished to make room for much taller replacement listed above. Built for Union Carbide. Will succeed Singer Building below as tallest deliberately demolished building.
Singer Building †New York City612 4719081968Demolished to make room for One Liberty Plaza; tallest building ever to be peacefully demolished; tallest building in the world from 1908 until 1909.
7 World Trade CenterNew York City570 4719872001Destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Morrison HotelChicago526 4519261965Demolished to make room for the Chase Tower.
Deutsche Bank BuildingNew York City517 3919742011Dismantled because of damage from the September 11, 2001 attacks.
One Meridian PlazaPhiladelphia492 3819721999Dismantled because of damage from a 1991 fire.
City Investing BuildingNew York City487 3319081968Demolished with the Singer Building to make room for One Liberty Plaza.
J.L. Hudson Company Department StoreDetroit410 2919111998Tallest building ever imploded; tallest department store in the world at the time of its completion.
First National Bank BuildingPittsburgh387 2619121970Demolished to make room for One PNC Plaza.

Timeline of tallest buildings

This is a list of the history of the tallest buildings in the United States.
This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in the United States.
NameImageLocationYears as tallestHeight
ft 		FloorsReference
Christ Church, PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia
1754–18101
Park Street ChurchBoston
1810–18281
Phoenix Shot TowerBaltimore
1828–18461
Trinity ChurchNew York City
1846–18691
Saint Michael's ChurchChicago
1869–18851
Chicago Board of Trade BuildingChicago
1885–189010
New York World BuildingNew York City
1890–189420
Philadelphia City Hall †Philadelphia
1894–19087
Singer Building †New York City
1908–190947
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower †New York City
1909–191350
Woolworth Building †New York City
1913–193057
Bank of Manhattan Trust Building †New York City
193070
Chrysler Building †New York City
1930–193177
Empire State Building †New York City
1931–1972102
One World Trade Center †New York City
1972–1974110
Willis Tower †
Chicago
1974–2013108
One World Trade CenterNew York City
2013–present104