This list features the 10 tallest buildings in the USA, based on official architectural height (including spires but excluding antennae), as recorded by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and verified through reliable, up-to-date sources. I keep this list updated regularly to reflect any changes—new completions, height confirmations, or updated rankings—so you’re always getting the most current snapshot of the American skyline.
1. One World Trade Center – 541 m / 1,776 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 7
- Floors: 104
- Completed: 2014
- Use: Office, Observation
- Estimated Cost: US $3.9 billion
Fun Facts:
- Height deliberately matches 1,776 ft — symbolic of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
- Built with a reinforced concrete core and upgraded safety features in response to 9/11.
- The One World Observatory offers sweeping 360° views across NYC from levels 102–104.
One World Trade Center — Photos by Tomasz Zielonka and Jean-Philippe Belley on Unsplash
2. Central Park Tower – 472 m / 1,550 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 15
- Floors: 98
- Completed: 2020
- Use: Residential, Retail
- Estimated Cost: US $3 billion
Fun Facts:
- Tallest residential building in the world.
- Features “Sky House,” a penthouse, listed for US $250 million.
- Its base includes a Nordstrom store, blending luxury retail with sky-high living.
Central Park Tower — Photos by Tomasz Brengos and Cyril @cyrilczl on Unsplash
3. Willis Tower – 442 m / 1,451 ft
- Location: Chicago
- Global Height Rank: 25
- Floors: 108
- Completed: 1974
- Use: Office
- Estimated Cost: US $150 million
Fun Facts:
- Held the title of the world’s tallest building for 25 years.
- Its “Skydeck” on the 103rd floor includes “The Ledge,” glass boxes that extend out from the building.
- Built with bundled tube frame design, allowing for its massive height with fewer support columns.
4. Steinway Tower – 435 m / 1,428 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 28
- Floors: 84
- Completed: 2021
- Use: Residential
- Estimated Cost: US $2 Billion
Fun Facts:
- The most slender skyscraper in the world, with a 1:24 width-to-height ratio.
- Built on the former site of the landmark Steinway Hall.
- The structure is only 60 feet wide, roughly the same as the length of a semi-truck trailer
Steinway Tower — Photo by Photo by Jess Sanchez on Unsplash
5. One Vanderbilt – 427 m / 1,401 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 29
- Floors: 62
- Completed: 2020
- Use: Office, Observation
- Estimated Cost: US $3.3 Billion
Fun Facts:
- Connected directly to Grand Central Terminal via an underground concourse.
- Features the “SUMMIT” Observation Deck, revealing views of NYC’s core.
- The facade comprises of nearly 9,000 glass panels.
One Vanderbilt — Photos by Tomasz Brengos and David Vives on Unsplash
6. 432 Park Avenue – 426 m / 1,397 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 30
- Floors: 85
- Completed: 2015
- Use: Residential
- Estimated Cost: US $1.3 Billion
Fun Facts:
- Upon completion, it was the tallest residential tower in the world.
- Distinctive square windows and minimal design were inspired by a trash can.
- Highly controversial due to its design appearance and structural flaws.
432 Park Avenue — Photos by Cyril @cyrilczl and Ness P. Colmart on Unsplash
7. Trump International Hotel and Tower – 423 m / 1,389 ft
- Location: Chicago
- Global Height Rank: 32
- Floors: 98
- Completed: 2009
- Use: Residential, Hotel
- Estimated Cost: US $850 Million
Fun Facts:
- Includes 486 luxury residential and 339 hotel suites.
- Designed by Architect Adrian Smith, who also designed the Burj Khalifa.
- Tallest residential building in the world upon completion.
Trump International Hotel and Tower — Photos Mahendra Maddirala and LARAM on Unsplash
8. JP Morgan Chase Tower – 423 m / 1,388 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 33 (Unofficial since not completed)
- Floors: 60
- Completed: 2025
- Use: Office
- Estimated Cost: US $3 Billion
Fun Facts:
- Home to JPMorgan Chase’s global headquarters.
- The previous building on the site, referred to as the Union Carbide Building, is the second-tallest voluntarily demolished building in the world
- Visible across Midtown Manhattan and known for its simple, clean, modern style
270 Park Avenue — Photos by Eli
9. 30 Hudson Yards – 387 m / 1,270 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 48
- Floors: 73
- Completed: 2019
- Use: Office, Observation
- Estimated Cost: US $2 Billion
Fun Facts:
- Home to “Edge,” the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere.
- Features an angled façade that reflects ever-changing city surroundings.
- Central to the Hudson Yards redevelopment project, a centrepiece of New York’s West Side expansion.
30 Hudson Yards — Photos by Luca Trassini and George Nifakos on Unsplash
10. Empire State Building – 381 m / 1,250 ft
- Location: New York City
- Global Height Rank: 55
- Floors: 102
- Completed: 1931
- Use: Office, Observation
- Estimated Cost: US $41 Million
Fun Facts:
- Former tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years.
- Fully constructed in just over one year
- Has its own zip code: 10118.
Empire State Building — Photos by Danny Taing and Ben Dumond on Unsplash