Elevation Finder: Elevation of Any Address or Place
Type any street address, landmark, summit or coordinate pair to look up its elevation above mean sea level in feet and meters, sampled from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model with a vertical accuracy estimate. No location sharing needed.
Elevation Finder & Topographic Search
Look up precise elevation above sea level for any address, mountain peak, or coordinate worldwide using Copernicus DEM.
How to use the elevation finder
- 1Search an address or place
Type a street address, landmark or summit, enter coordinates, or click the map.
- 2Sample the terrain model
The point is looked up in the Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model (about 90 m cells) via Open-Meteo, with a Terrarium tile fallback.
- 3Read the elevation
See the elevation above mean sea level in feet and meters with a vertical accuracy estimate.
How to Find the Elevation of an Address
Discovering the exact elevation of a specific property or street address requires connecting two distinct geospatial systems: address geocoding and digital elevation modeling. When an address is entered into Open Map Lab, it is first geocoded to its exact point coordinates on the WGS84 geographic ellipsoid.
Next, our system queries a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) mosaic composed of the European Space Agency's Copernicus GLO-90 dataset, served through the Open-Meteo elevation API (with open Terrarium terrain tiles as a fallback). The result is an approximate height above mean sea level on a roughly 90-meter grid, typically within a few meters on open ground and less reliable in forests, steep terrain and dense city blocks.
How Elevation Is Estimated From a Terrain Grid
Global satellite elevation grids record altitude samples at regularly spaced intervals (e.g., 30 meters or 90 meters between adjacent data nodes). When an address falls between sample points, querying the nearest single pixel would create artificial steps or terraces across continuous terrain.
To ensure smooth and accurate elevation readouts, Open Map Lab employs bilinear interpolation across the four surrounding grid sample points. This calculates a mathematically weighted elevation value that reflects the subtle slope and gradient of your exact terrain.
Ground Elevation vs. Building Height
A critical distinction in elevation querying is between a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and a Digital Surface Model (DSM):
- Digital Terrain Model (DTM): Strips away all vegetation, tree canopies, residential buildings, and skyscrapers to measure the bare-earth ground level. Copernicus GLO-90, the model Open Map Lab uses, is closer to a surface model, so in dense forest or among tall buildings the value can sit somewhat above the bare ground under your foundation.
- Digital Surface Model (DSM): Captures the top surface of the environment, including tree crowns and skyscraper roofs. A DSM reading on the top floor of a 1,000-foot tower will report 1,000 feet above the ground.
Elevation Calculation: Worked Example
Mathematical formulation of interpolating elevation between four surrounding raster sample nodes:
H(x, y) = (1 - u)(1 - v)H_{0,0} + u(1 - v)H_{1,0} + (1 - u)v H_{0,1} + uv H_{1,1}- (1 - u)(1 - v) = (0.70)(0.30) = 0.21 -> 0.21 × 520.0 = 109.2 m
- u(1 - v) = (0.30)(0.30) = 0.09 -> 0.09 × 530.0 = 47.7 m
- (1 - u)v = (0.70)(0.70) = 0.49 -> 0.49 × 540.0 = 264.6 m
- u v = (0.30)(0.70) = 0.21 -> 0.21 × 550.0 = 115.5 m
- H_total = 109.2 + 47.7 + 264.6 + 115.5 = 537.0 meters (1,761.8 ft)
Bilinear interpolation eliminates stair-stepping errors, producing continuous and realistic terrain altitudes.
Elevation Examples for Well-Known Addresses (Table)
Approximate elevations for notable landmark addresses across differing topographical zones:
Landmark Address Elevation Benchmarks
Approximate heights above mean sea level (EGM2008 geoid) from Copernicus GLO-90; official survey benchmarks can differ by several meters.
| Address / Facility | City & State | Elevation (Feet) | Elevation (Meters) | Source Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW | Washington, DC | 56 ft | 17.1 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
| 200 E Colfax Ave (State Capitol) | Denver, CO | 5,280 ft | 1,609.3 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
| Badwater Basin Road Mile 17 | Death Valley, CA | -282 ft | -86.0 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
| 1000 Rim Village Drive | Crater Lake, OR | 7,100 ft | 2,164.1 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
| 1 Leadville Historic District | Leadville, CO | 10,152 ft | 3,094.3 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
| 725 5th Ave (Midtown) | New York, NY | 82 ft | 25.0 m | Copernicus GLO-90 |
Elevation Finder Accuracy: Construction and Flood Use
Before using satellite-derived elevation data for construction or legal flood mapping, consider:
- Flood Insurance Certifications: FEMA flood insurance elevation certificates mandate an on-site optical or differential GNSS survey by a licensed surveyor; satellite DEMs cannot substitute.
- Excavation & Grading: Building site prep requires engineering-grade micro-topography (typically 1-foot contour accuracy) rather than 90-meter satellite averages.
- Steep Cliffs and Canyons: Near sheer vertical cliffs, slight horizontal coordinate errors can produce significant vertical elevation differences.
Related Topographic Tools
Read your immediate live device altitude with My Elevation or inspect coordinate points with Latitude Longitude Finder.
Quick facts about the elevation finder
| Fact | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary DEM Model | Copernicus GLO-90 (ESA) | Global 90-meter radar DEM |
| Vertical Datum | EGM2008 Geoid | Orthometric height above Mean Sea Level |
| Vertical Precision | ±4.0 Meters LE90 | High-confidence topographic radar |
Edge cases and exceptions
Tide Levels vs. Mean Sea Level
Elevation is referenced to the Earth Gravitational Model (EGM2008 geoid), not dynamic ocean tide levels which fluctuate daily with lunar gravity.
The elevation finder: worked examples
Mile-High City Verification
Scenario: Checking elevation at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Outcome: Confirms elevation of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) above mean sea level.
Frequently asked questions about the elevation finder
How accurate is this elevation finder?
Elevation values derived from the Copernicus GLO-90 model have a vertical accuracy of approximately ±4 meters (13 feet) at 90% confidence.
Is elevation measured from the center of Earth or sea level?
Elevation is measured as orthometric height above Mean Sea Level (MSL) referenced to the EGM2008 geoid datum.
What does the elevation finder do that "my elevation" does not?
This tool starts from an address, place name or coordinate you type, while the other reads the point where you are. Both use the same terrain model.
Can I find the elevation of an address?
Yes. Search a street address and the tool geocodes it and reports the ground elevation at that point in feet and meters.
Why is the elevation I get different from the listing for my city?
Cities publish a single value for a reference point, often an airport or city hall, while the terrain varies across the city.
What is vertical datum?
A vertical datum is the reference surface for height. In the US, NAVD88 is standard; global models use the EGM geoid. Differences are typically under a meter, but can be larger.
What is the difference between DEM and DSM?
A digital elevation model (DEM) represents bare ground; a surface model (DSM) includes trees and buildings. Copernicus GLO-90 is a surface model, so heights in forests and cities can include canopy and roofs.
How do I find elevation for a route?
Use the elevation profile tool to chart the terrain between points.
What elevation do I need for flood risk?
Flood risk uses precise surveyed elevations compared with a base flood elevation. This tool is not suited to that use; check FEMA flood maps and an elevation certificate.
Does elevation change the weather?
In the standard atmosphere, temperature falls about 3.5 °F per 1,000 feet, so higher places are cooler and often windier.
Keep exploring
What to do with this result
- What Is My Elevation?Use this to check your current elevation.
- Elevation Profile ToolUse this to draw an elevation profile.
- Horizon Distance Calculator — Distance to the HorizonUse this to calculate horizon distance.
- Address to Coordinates Converter (Lat/Long & UTM)Use this to convert an address to coordinates.
- GPX Viewer & Trail Track VisualizerUse this to view a GPX track.