The 10 Tallest Buildings in the U.S.

Where demand for real estate is high, prices soar. In such premium locations, oftentimes the only sensible answer is to build upward, which helps to explain why a list of the tallest buildings in the United States is dominated by New York City. However, as the home of the first skyscraper — the 10-story Home Insurance Building completed in 1885 — Chicago also appears on the list. And when 270 Park Avenue is fully completed, as is expected to happen by the end of 2025, the rankings will shuffle once again to make space for a new skyscraper. But for now, let’s take a look at the current top 10 tallest buildings in the United States, as of 2025.   

10. Bank of America Tower – New York, New York

Building height: 1,200 feet

The 10th-tallest building in America is One Bryant Park, also known as the Bank of America Tower, after its primary tenant. Completed in 2004, the skyscraper sits on the Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) across from Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan. 

This light and airy office building takes its inspiration from quartz crystal and is notable for its eco-credentials. One Bryant Park was the first commercial high-rise to receive LEED Platinum certification thanks to features such as a thermal storage system, gray water capture, and a commitment to recycling during the demolition and construction process. The indoor Urban Garden Room also connects the tower to Bryant Park — one of the world’s busiest public spaces, with 12 million visitors each year. 

9. Empire State Building – New York, New York 

Building height: 1,250 feet

The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world from 1931 until 1972. Though other skyscrapers have since surpassed it in height, none has come close to making a cultural impact that can measure up to this art deco landmark. 

Construction of the 102-story building took just one year and 45 days, a remarkable feat for the time it was built. Two years after the Empire State Building was finished, it featured prominently in the 1933 movie King Kong, and since then it has captured the limelight in countless other films and TV shows. An estimated 2.5 million people visit every year, including those fit enough to race up the 1,860 steps as part of the Empire State Building Annual Run-Up.

8. 30 Hudson Yards – New York, New York 

Building height: 1,270 feet

Hudson Yards, located on the west side of midtown Manhattan, has been the site of a massive — and expensive — redevelopment project over the last two decades. A 99-year lease on the air rights alone cost developers $1 billion. Construction began in 2012, with the first phase opening to the public in 2019, including the eye-catching (and climable) Vessel structure. 

A central feature of the development is 30 Hudson Yards, America’s eighth-tallest skyscraper, perhaps best known as the home of Edge. The outdoor deck juts out from the building at a height of 100 stories, and features a unique triangular-shaped transparent floor. It’s the highest outdoor skydeck in the Western Hemisphere.

7. Trump International Hotel and Tower – Chicago, Illinois 

Building height: 1,389 feet

Home to a five-star hotel along with luxury condominiums, this 1,389-foot-tall building is one of the most recognizable on Chicago’s iconic skyline. It opened in 2008 as the tallest residential building in North America and the Windy City’s second-tallest building overall. Situated on the north side of the Chicago River near the Magnificent Mile, the 92-story glass-and-concrete building features an eye-catching series of setbacks in its design that each reflect the height of a nearby building.

6. 432 Park Avenue – New York, New York 

Building height: 1,397 feet

Completed in 2015, this stylish residential tower was designed by New York-based Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly. It’s the farthest east of the super-tall towers of Billionaire’s Row, the nickname for a cluster of luxury residential buildings at the southern end of Central Park and along 57th Street. 

The simple latticework of the white Portland cement façade is proof that when it comes to architecture, sometimes less is more. However, in 2021, reports surfaced of plumbing issues, malfunctioning elevators, and creaking walls affecting the building and those that had paid many millions of dollars to live in it. Developers CIM Group, for their part, responded that 432 Park Avenue “is a successfully designed, constructed and virtually sold-out project.”

5. One Vanderbilt Avenue – New York, New York 

Building height: 1,401 feet

Located in midtown Manhattan, One Vanderbilt is a breathtaking skyscraper that overlooks Grand Central Terminal. Many visitors come to experience Summit One, an innovative multisensory experience featuring balls and mirrors that are so fun, you might even forget to look at the city beyond. Opened in 2020, the 73-story building mostly houses offices, with views that get better the higher you go. The Sky Floors on levels 72 and 73 feature outdoor private terraces to capitalize on those world-class views. 

4. 111 West 57th Street – New York, New York

Building height: 1,428 feet

Landing at No. 4 on the list of America’s tallest buildings, 111 West 57th Street has a striking height-to-width ratio of 24:1, giving rise to its nickname: “the Skinny Skyscraper.” The structure tapers toward the top to create a feathered edge and is clad in elegant terra-cotta. 

Some know it as the Steinway Tower, which stems from the fact that what appears to be one building from a distance is actually two. The Steinway Tower, a century-old neoclassical landmark that now forms the entrance to the much taller addition at 111 West 57th Street, was the headquarters of the piano company for almost 90 years. Architecture firm SHoP skillfully combined the two buildings, splitting the luxurious condos between them. 

3. Willis Tower – Chicago, Illinois

Building height: 1,451 feet

A Chicago icon since 1973, Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) was the tallest building in the world until 1998. An impressive 76,000 tons of steel were used in the construction of this 110-story building. To ensure its stability in high winds, the skyscraper was designed to sway about 6 inches. 

Located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower is the Skydeck observation platform, the highest of its kind in the United States. Riding the elevator to take in the view over the city and Lake Michigan takes just 60 seconds. At the top, you’ll find retractable glass boxes that were installed in 2009, enabling visitors to step onto the Ledge and look down to the street more than 1,300 feet below.

2. Central Park Tower – New York, New York

Building height: 1,550 feet

The tallest residences in not only the U.S., but also the world, are found within Central Park Tower, part of Billionaire’s Row. American architect Adrian Smith had previously designed Burj Khalifa in Dubai before he teamed up with Gordon Gill to create this jaw-dropping Manhattan landmark. 

The 1,550-foot-tall structure, completed in 2021, contains 179 homes ranging from studio suites to four-bedroom units. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure uninterrupted views across Central Park. While you’ll need deep pockets to own one, anyone can access the first five floors of the building, which house Nordstrom’s flagship department store.  

1. One World Trade Center – New York, New York

Building height: 1,776 feet

Born out of tragedy post-9/11, this glittering skyscraper is emblematic of New York’s indomitable spirit. Architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill wanted to create a building that “honors the World Trade Center’s past while standing as a symbol of hope for the future,” according to the firm’s website. 

One World Trade Center, initially known as the Freedom Tower, does just that. It’s topped by a 408-foot-high spire that brings its total height to a deliberately chosen 1,776 feet (after the year of American independence). As visitors ascend the elevator to the observation deck of this office tower, New York’s famous skyline rises with them. And 45 seconds later, they’ll step out onto the light-filled 102nd floor, where a 360-degree view of the Big Apple awaits.