Skyscraper Height Comparison (CTBUH Meters)
Compare 12 tallest skyscraper heights in meters: Burj Khalifa 828, Merdeka 679, Shanghai Tower 632, One WTC 541.3, with CTBUH Skyscraper Center sources.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa, Dubai To tip 829.8 m, occupied floor 585.4 m. Spire counts. | 828 m (2,716.5 ft) | Completed 2010, 163 floors, tallest building in the world | CTBUH Skyscraper Center Burj Khalifa: 828 m architectural |
| Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur Precise 678.9 m. Tallest in Southeast Asia. | 679 m (2,227.7 ft) | Completed 2023 to 2024, 118 floors, second tallest building | CTBUH Journal 2023; Skyscraper Center: 678.9 m |
| Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Twisted form, occupied floor 583.4 m. | 632 m (2,073.5 ft) | Completed 2015, 128 floors | CTBUH Skyscraper Center Shanghai Tower: 632 m |
| Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, Mecca Clock spire counts. | 601 m (1,971.8 ft) | Completed 2012, 120 floors, hotel and clock tower | CTBUH Height Criteria poster: Makkah Clock Tower 601 m |
| Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen Precise 599.1 m. Reduced from 660 for aviation limits. | 599 m (1,965.2 ft) | Completed 2017, 115 floors | CTBUH Skyscraper Center: 599 m |
| Lotte World Tower, Seoul Often listed as 554.5 m. Tapered spire counts. | 555 m (1,820.9 ft) | Completed 2017, 123 floors | CTBUH Skyscraper Center Lotte World Tower: 555 m |
| One World Trade Center, New York Roof near 417 m. Spire ruled as spire in May 2014. | 541.3 m (1,775.9 ft) | Completed 2014, 94 floors, tallest in USA | CTBUH Height Committee ruling May 2014: 541.3 m |
| Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, Guangzhou Sister tower to Tianjin CTF, same height. | 530 m (1,738.8 ft) | Completed 2016, 111 floors | CTBUH Skyscraper Center: 530 m |
| Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, Tianjin Tallest completion of 2019. Tied with Guangzhou CTF. | 530 m (1,738.8 ft) | Completed 2019, 97 floors | CTBUH Tall Buildings 2019 report: 530 m |
| CITIC Tower (China Zun), Beijing Precise 527.7 m. Vase like form. | 528 m (1,732.3 ft) | Completed 2018, 108 floors | CTBUH Height Criteria poster: China Zun 528 m |
| TAIPEI 101, Taipei To tip also 508 m. Occupied height 438 m. | 508 m (1,666.7 ft) | Completed 2004, 101 floors, tallest 2004 to 2009 | CTBUH Skyscraper Center TAIPEI 101: 508 m |
| Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Trapezoid opening at top. Occupied height 474 m. | 492 m (1,614.2 ft) | Completed 2008, 101 floors | CTBUH Height Criteria poster: 492 m |
About this converter
Skyscraper architectural heights run from 492 to 828 meters here, which makes every tower easy to compare. The Shanghai World Financial Center reaches 492 meters, while Burj Khalifa reaches 828. That means one Burj equals 1.7 SWFCs, and the 149 meter gap to Merdeka 118 alone beats most towers. Every figure on this page is a CTBUH architectural height to the architectural top, including spires but excluding antennas. Ten of the twelve towers stand in Asia, with five in China alone. Spire rulings shape the ranking, and each disputed row notes the detail.
How to use it
Pick two towers and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked: one holds a count of the first height, one the matching count of the second, one the height in the chosen unit. Change any box and the other two update. Try 1 Burj Khalifa against Merdeka 118 to feel the top gap, or stack Taipei 101s against the Burj.
Merdeka 118 reads 678.9 precise, rounded to 679 in press lists. Ping An reads 599.1 precise after its redesign from 660 for aviation limits. Lotte World Tower reads 554.5 precise. CITIC Tower reads 527.7 precise. One World Trade Center reaches 541.3 only because CTBUH ruled its projection a spire, while its roof sits near 417. Guangzhou CTF and Tianjin CTF tie at 530.
FAQ
What does architectural height mean?
It is measured from the lowest open air pedestrian entrance to the architectural top. It includes spires but excludes antennas, signage, and flag poles. CTBUH uses this figure for world rankings.
Why does One World Trade Center count its spire?
CTBUH ruled in 2013 to 2014 that its top projection is a spire, not an antenna. Its architectural height is therefore 541.3 m. Its roof level is far lower, at about 417 m.
Are Guangzhou CTF and Tianjin CTF really the same height?
Yes. CTBUH lists both at 530 m architectural height. Tianjin CTF was the tallest completion of 2019 and tied its Guangzhou sister tower.
How much taller is Burj Khalifa than its nearest rival here?
Burj Khalifa is 828 m. Merdeka 118 is 678.9 m. The gap is about 149 m, which is taller than many skyscrapers on their own.
Sources
- CTBUH Skyscraper Center building pages; CTBUH Height Criteria poster Jan 2019
- CTBUH Year in Review reports (2015, 2019, 2023); Height Committee ruling May 2014 (One WTC)
- Emaar announcement Jan 2010 (Burj Khalifa); Taipei Financial Center Corp page (TAIPEI 101)
Last verified: 2026-10-04 · 12 entries
More creature sizes converters
Godzilla and Kaiju Size Converter (Height Comparison)
How big is Godzilla? Compare 16 kaiju heights: Monsterverse Godzilla, Kong, Ghidorah, Shin Godzilla and more. Meters, feet and visual bars.
Aircraft Carrier Length Comparison (Overall Meters)
Compare 13 aircraft carrier overall lengths: Juan Carlos 231 m, De Gaulle 261, Queen Elizabeth 284, Fujian 316, Ford 333. Official navy figures in one table.
Airliner Length Comparison (Widebody Meters)
Compare 8 widebody airliner lengths in meters, from the A330neo at 63.69 m to the 777-9 at 76.72 m. Maker spec figures in a linked tool. for fans today.
← Skyrim Weapon Damage Comparison (UESP Base Damage) · Skyscraper Height Comparison (CTBUH Meters) →