Updated February 14, 2013
What are the tallest buildings in the world? Here's how they rank, according to skyscraper databases and Web sites.
Note that the table below lists only fully habitable buildings, not observation towers. For statistics on CN Tower and other very tall structures, see our directory of TV, Radio & Observation Towers.
Do you love tall buildings? Tell us your favorite skyscraper.
WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDINGS RANKED
| Building and Location |
Year | Stories | Height meters / feet |
Chief Architect |
|
|
Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower), |
2010 | 162 | 828 | 2,717 | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill |
|
Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, |
2012 | 120 | 601 | 1,971 | Dar Al-Handasah |
|
Busan Lotte World II |
2015? | 110 | 510.55 | 1,674 | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
| Taipei 101 Tower Taipei, Taiwan |
2004 | 101 | 509 | 1,670 | C.Y. Lee & Partner |
| Shanghai World Financial Center, China | 2008 | 101 | 492 | 1,614 | Kohn Pedersen Fox |
| International Commerce Centre (ICC), Hong Kong, China | 2010 | 118 | 484 | 1,587.9 | Kohn Pedersen Fox |
|
Petronas Towers 1 & 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1998 | 88 | 452 | 1,483 | Cesar Pelli |
|
Zifeng Tower (Greenland Square Zifeng Tower), Nanjing, China |
2010 | 89 | 450 | 1,476 | Adrian Smith, SOM |
| The Gateway III, Hong Kong, China (proposed) |
? | ? | 450 | 1,476 | Wong & Ouyang |
| Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Chicago | 1974 | 110 | 442 | 1,450 | Bruce Graham (SOM) |
| Kingkey 100 (Kingkey Finance Center Plaza), Shenzhen, China | 2011 | 100 | 442 | 1,449 | Terry Farrell and Partners |
| Guangzhou International Finance Center, Guangzhou, China | 2010 | 103 | 440 | 1,440 | Wilkinson Eyre |
| Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, USA | 2009 | 98 | 423 | 1,389 | Adrian Smith, SOM |
|
Jin Mao Building, Shanghai |
1999 | 88 | 421 | 1,381 | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill |
|
One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) |
2013 | 82 | 417 | 1,368 (1,776 with spire) |
David Childs, SOM |
| World Trade Center Twin Towers, New York Destroyed by terrorists 9/11/01 |
1973 | 110 | 417 | 1,368 | Minoru Yamaski |
|
Princess Tower, Dubai, UAE |
2012 | 101 | 414 | 1,358 | |
| Two International Finance Centre (IFC), Hong Kong | 2003 | 88 | 414 | 1,362 | Cesar Pelli |
| Al Hamra Firdous Tower, Kuwait City, Kuwait | 2011 | 77 | 413 | 1,354 | SOM |
| Marina 101, Dubai, UAE | 2012 | 101 | 412 | 1,352 | National Engineering Bureau |
| CITIC Plaza, China International Trust, Guanzhou | 1997 | 80 | 391 | 1,283 | DLN Architects |
| Shun Hing Square, Shenzhen, China | 1996 | 69 | 384 | 1,260 | K.Y. Cheung Design Assc. |
| Central Market Project, Abu Dhabi, UAE | 2012 | 88 | 381 | 1,251 | Foster + Partners |
|
Empire State Building, New York |
1931 | 102 | 381 | 1,250 | Shreve, Lamb and Harmon |
|
Elite Residence, Dubai, UAE |
2012 | 91 | 380 | 1,227 | Adnan Saffarini |
| 1992 | 78 | 374 | 1,227 | Ng Chun Man | |
|
Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong |
1989 | 70 | 369 | 1,209 | Ieoh Ming Pei |
| Bank of America Tower, New York City USA | 2009 | 54 | 366 | 1,200 | Cook Fox |
|
Millenium Tower Frankfurt Germany |
? | 91 | 365 | 1,198 | Albert Speer & Partner GmbH |
| Emirates Tower One, Dubai | 1999 | 54 | 355 | 1,165 | Norr Group Consultants Int. Ltd., Hazel W.S. Wo |
|
T & C Tower (Tuntex Sky Tower), Kaoshiung, Taiwan |
1997 | 85 | 348 | 1,140 | C.Y. Lee & Partners and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum |
| Aon Centre, Chicago | 1973 | 80 | 346 | 1,136 | |
| The Center, Hong Kong | 1998 | 73 | 346 | 1,135 | Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers |
| John Hancock Center, Chicago | 1969 | 100 | 344 | 1,127 | Bruce Graham, SOM |
| Rose Tower, Dubai, UAE |
? | 72 | 333 | 1,093 | Khatib & Alami |
|
Shimao International Plaza, Shanghai, China |
2005 | 60 | 333 | 1,093 | East China Architecture and Design Institute |
|
Wuhan International Securities Building, Wuhan |
2005 | 68 | 331 | 1,087 | |
| Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, N. Korea | 1995 | 105 | 330 | 1,083 | |
| Q1 Tower, Gold Coast, Australia | 2005 | 78 | 323 | 1,058 | Sunland Group Ltd., The Buchan Group |
| Burj al Arab Hotel, Dubai | 1998 | 60 | 321 | 1,053 | |
| Chrysler Building, New York | 1930 | 77 | 319 | 1,046 | William Van Alen |
| Bank of America, Atlanta | 1993 | 55 | 312 | 1,023 | |
| U.S. Bank Tower, Los Angeles | 1990 | 75 | 310 | 1,018 | |
| Menara Telekom Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur | 1999 | 55 | 310 | 1,017 | |
| The Shard, London | 2012 | 72-88 | 310 | 1,016 | Renzo Piano |
| Emerates Tower Two, Dubai | 1999 | 56 | 309 | 1,114 | Norr Group Consultants Int. Ltd., Hazel W.S. Wo |
| AT&T Corporate Center, Chicago | 1989 | 60 | 307 | 1,007 | |
| JP Morgan Chase Tower, Houston | 1982 | 75 | 305 | 1,000 | |
| Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok | 1997 | 85 | 304 | 997 | |
| Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago | 1990 | 64 | 303 | 995 | |
| Kingdom Centre, Riyadh | 2002 | 41 | 302 | 992 | |
| Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, N. Korea | 1995 | 105 | 300 | 984 | |
| First Canadian Place, Toronto | 1975 | 72 | 298 | 978 | |
| Eureka Tower, Melbourne, Australia |
2006 | 91 | 297 | 975 | Fender Katsalidis Architects |
| Wells Fargo Plaza, Houston |
1983 | 71 | 296 | 972 | |
| Landmark Tower, Yokohama, Japan | 1993 | 70 | 296 | 971 | |
| 311 South Wacker Drive, Chicago | 1990 | 65 | 293 | 961 | |
| SEG Plaza, Shenzhen | 2000 | 71 | 292 | 957 | |
| American International Building (AIG), New York | 1932 | 66 | 290 | 952 | Clinton and Russell, Holton & George |
| Key Tower, Cleveland | 1991 | 57 | 289 | 947 | Cesar Pelli |
| Plaza 66, Shanghai | 2001 | 66 | 288 | 945 | |
| One Liberty Place, Philadelphia | 1987 | 61 | 288 | 945 | |
| Bank of America Center, Seattle | 1985 | 76 | 285 | 937 | |
| Sunjoy Tomorrow Square, Shanghai | 2003 | 55 | 285 | 934 | |
| Cheung Kong Center, Hong Kong | 1999 | 63 | 283 | 929 | |
| Chongqing World Trade Center, Chongqing | 2005 | 60 | 283 | 929 | |
| The Trump Building, 40 Wall Street, New York | 1930 | 72 | 283 | 927 | |
| Bank of America Plaza, Dallas | 1985 | 72 | 281 | 921 | |
| Overseas Union Bank Centre, Singapore | 1986 | 66 | 280 | 919 | |
| United Overseas Bank Plaza, Singapore |
1992 | 66 | 280 | 919 | |
| Republic Plaza, Singapore | 1995 | 66 | 280 | 919 | |
| Citicorp Center, New York | 1977 | 59 | 279 | 915 | |
| Hong Kong New World Tower, Shanghai | 2002 | 61 | 278 | 913 | |
| Scotia Plaza, Toronto | 1989 | 68 | 275 | 902 | |
| Williams Tower, Houston | 1983 | 64 | 275 | 901 | |
| Renaissance Tower, Dallas | 1975 | 56 | 270 | 886 | |
| Dapeng International Plaza, Guangzhou | 2004 | 56 | 269 | 883 | |
| 21st Century Tower, Dubai | 2003 | 55 | 269 | 883 | |
| 900 North Michigan Ave., Chicago | 1989 | 66 | 265 | 871 | |
| Bank of America Corporate Center, Charlotte | 1992 | 60 | 265 | 871 | |
| SunTrust Plaza, Atlanta | 1992 | 60 | 265 | 871 | |
| Triumph Palace, Moscow | 2004 | 61 | 264 | 866 | |
| Shenzhen Special Zone Daily Tower, Shenzhen | 1998 | 42 | 264 | 866 | |
| Tower Palace Three, Tower G, Seoul | 2004 | 73 | 264 | 865 | |
| Trump World Tower, New York | 2001 | 72 | 262 | 861 | |
| Grand Gateway: Office Tower One, Shanghai, China | 2005 | 55 | 262 | 859 | |
| Water Tower Place, Chicago | 1976 | 74 | 262 | 859 | |
| Aon Center, Los Angeles | 1974 | 62 | 262 | 858 | |
| BCE Place-Canada Trust Tower, Toronto | 1990 | 51 | 261 | 856 | |
| Transamerica Corporate Headquarters, San Francisco | 1972 | 48 | 260 | 853 | |
| Commerzbank Tower, Frankfurt | 1997 | 56 | 259 | 850 | |
| GE Building, New York | 1933 | 70 | 259 | 850 | |
| Bank One Plaza, Chicago | 1969 | 60 | 259 | 850 | |
| Two Liberty Place, Philadelphia | 1990 | 58 | 258 | 848 | |
| Philippine Bank of Communications, Makati | 2000 | 55 | 258 | 848 | |
| Park Tower, Chicago | 2000 | 67 | 257 | 844 | |
| Devon Tower, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | 2012 | 52 | 257 | 844 | Pickard Chilton Architects Inc. |
| Messeturm, Frankfurt | 1990 | 63 | 257 | 843 | |
| Sorrento 1, Hong Kong | 2003 | 75 | 256 | 841 | |
| U.S. Steel Tower, Pittsburgh | 1970 | 64 | 256 | 841 | |
| Mok-dong Hyperion Tower A, Seoul | 2003 | 69 | 256 | 840 | |
| Rinku Gate Tower, Osaka | 1996 | 56 | 256 | 840 | |
| The Harbourside, Hong Kong | 2003 | 74 | 255 | 837 | |
| Langham Place Office Tower, Hong Kong | 2004 | 59 | 255 | 837 | |
| Capital Tower, Singapore | 2000 | 52 | 254 | 833 | |
| Highcliff, Hong Kong | 2003 | 73 | 253 | 831 | |
| World Trade Center, Osaka | 1995 | 55 | 252 | 827 | |
| Bank of Shanghai Headquarters, Shanghai | 2005 | 46 | 252 | 827 | |
| Jiali Plaza, Wuhan | 1997 | 61 | 251 | 824 | |
| Rialto Towers, Melbourne | 1986 | 63 | 251 | 824 | Gerard de Preu / Perrott Lyon Mathieson |
| One Atlantic Center, Atlanta | 1988 | 50 | 250 | 820 | |
| Chelsea Tower, Dubai | 2005 | 49 | 250 | 820 | |
| Wisma 46,Jakarta | 1995 | 46 | 250 | 820 | |
| Korea Life Insurance Company, Seoul | 1985 | 60 | 249 | 817 | |
| CitySpire, New York | 1989 | 75 | 248 | 814 | |
| One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York | 1961 | 60 | 248 | 813 | |
| State Tower, Bangkok | 2001 | 68 | 247 | 811 | |
| Bank One Tower, Indianapolis | 1989 | 48 | 247 | 811 | |
| Condé Nast Building, New York | 1999 | 48 | 247 | 809 | |
| MetLife, New York | 1963 | 59 | 246 | 808 | |
| Bloomberg Tower, New York | 2004 | 55 | 246 | 806 | |
| JR Central Towers, Nagoya | 2000 | 51 | 245 | 804 | |
| Shin Kong Life Tower, Taipei, Taiwan | 1993 | 51 | 244 | 801 | |
| Malayan Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1988 | 50 | 244 | 799 | |
| Tokyo City Hall, Tokyo | 1991 | 48 | 243 | 797 | |
| Woolworth Building, New York | 1913 | 57 | 241 | 792 | Cass Gilbert |
| Mellon Bank Center, Philadelphia | 1991 | 54 | 241 | 792 | |
| John Hancock Tower, Boston | 1976 | 60 | 240 | 788 | I. M. Pei |
| Deutsche Bank Place: 126 Phillip Street, Sydney, Australia | 2005 | 39 | 240 | 787 | |
| Bank One Center, Dallas | 1987 | 60 | 240 | 787 | |
| Commerce Court West, Toronto | 1973 | 57 | 239 | 784 | |
| Moscow State University, Moscow | 1953 | 26 | 239 | 784 | |
| Vista Tower (formerly Empire Tower), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1994 | 62 | 238 | 781 | |
| NationsBank Center, Houston | 1984 | 56 | 238 | 780 | |
| Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, Tokyo, Japan | 2003 | 54 | 238 | ||
| Bank of America Center, San Francisco | 1969 | 52 | 237 | 779 | |
| Worldwide Plaza, New York | 1989 | 47 | 237 | 778 | |
| One Canada Square, London | 1991 | 50 | 237 | 777 | |
| IDS Center, Minneapolis | 1973 | 52 | 236 | 775 | |
| U.S. Bank Place, Minneapolis | 1992 | 58 | 236 | 774 | |
| Norwest Center, Minneapolis | 1988 | 57 | 235 | 773 | |
| Treasury Building, Singapore | 1986 | 52 | 235 | 770 | |
| One Ninety One Peachtree Tower, Atlanta |
1991 | 50 | 235 | 770 | |
| Opera City Tower, Tokyo | 1997 | 54 | 234 | 768 | |
| Shinjuku Park Tower, Tokyo | 1994 | 52 | 233 | 764 | |
| Heritage Plaza, Houston | 1987 | 52 | 232 | 762 | |
| Suzhou Xindi Center, Suzhou, China | 2005 | 54 | 232 | 761 | |
| Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak Building, Penang, Malaysia |
1985 | 65 | 232 | 760 | |
| The Arch, Hong Kong, China | 2005 | 65 | 231 | 758 | |
| Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw | 1955 | 42 | 231 | 758 | |
| Carnegie Hall Tower, New York | 1991 | 60 | 231 | 757 | |
| Three First National Plaza, Chicago | 1981 | 57 | 230 | 753 | |
| Equitable Tower, New York | 1986 | 51 | 229 | 752 | |
| MLC Centre, Sydney | 1978 | 65 | 229 | 751 | |
| One Penn Plaza, New York | 1972 | 57 | 229 | 750 | |
| 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York | 1972 | 54 | 229 | 750 | |
| Prudential Center, Boston | 1964 | 52 | 229 | 750 | |
| Two California Plaza, Los Angeles | 1992 | 52 | 229 | 750 | |
| Gas Company Tower, Los Angeles | 1991 | 54 | 228 | 749 | |
| Two Pacific Place/Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong |
1991 | 56 | 228 | 748 | |
| 1100 Louisiana Building, Houston | 1980 | 55 | 228 | 748 | |
| Korea World Trade Center, Seoul | 1988 | 54 | 228 | 748 | |
| Governor Phillip Tower, Sydney | 1993 | 64 | 227 | 745 | |
