New York City is famous for its iconic skyline. For many years New York City’s skyline was primarily defined by the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. A recent high-rise building bloom of luxury condos has now changed the look of the city’s skyline.
Before the attack on 9/11, the World Trade Center towers were the first and second tallest buildings in New York. Since 2013, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York, in the US but also in the western hemisphere. This list will tank the tallest buildings in New York City starting with the tallest first.
1. One World Trade Center
| Height: 1,776 ft (541 m) |
| Address: 285 Fulton Street |
| Neighborhood: Financial District |
| Floors: 104 |
One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York, but also in the western hemisphere. The building is designed by David Childs, together with Daniel Libeskind. World Trade Building will give you a breathtaking view of New York City from their 102nd floor observation deck.
2. Central Park Tower
| Height: 1,550 ft (472 m) |
| Address: 225 West 57th Street |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 95 |
Central Park Tower is the tallest residential building in New York City. After it was built in 2019, it stole the first place on the list from 432 Park Tower.
3. 111 West 57th Street
| Height: 1,428 ft (435 m) |
| Address: 111 West 57th Street |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 84 |
111 West 57th Street is also known as Steinway Tower which was the name of the building that stood there before. This residential building has 84 floors and is one of the tallest buildings in New York City. The top of the building is so narrow that only one apartment per floor can fit.
4. One Vanderbilt
| Height: 1,401 ft (427 m) |
| Address: 1 Vanderbilt Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 59 |
One Vanderbilt is the fourth tallest building in New York City. Here you can visit their famous observation deck called SUMMIT. SUMMIT takes the concept of an “observation deck” to entirely new levels by blending art, and technology, with the view of New York City.
5. 432 Park Avenue
| Height: 1,396 ft (88 m) eller 1397 ft |
| Address: 432 Park Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 85 |
It only took three years to build 432 Park Avenue which today is one of the tallest buildings in New York. The building is designed by Rafael Viñoly. 432 Park Avenue does not only have one of the most expensive apartments in New York but also in the whole world.
6. 270 Park Avenue (JP Morgan Chase World Headquarters)
| Height: 1,388 ft. (423 m) |
| Address: 270 Park Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 93 |
Union Carbide Building, earlier called JP Morgan Chase World Headquarters, was renovated in 2021 and takes sixth place on the list of the tallest buildings in New York.
7. 30 Hudson Yards
| Height: 1,296 ft (395 m) |
| Address: 500 West 33rd Street |
| Neighborhood: Hudson Yards |
| Floors: 73 |
30 Hudson Yards comes in seventh place on the list as the tallest buildings in New York City. This building is also called the North Tower. 30 Hudson Yards is designed by the famous architect firm Kohn Pederson Fox. 30 Hudson Yards is the home to the famous observation deck called Edge. Edge is not only the tallest observation deck in New York, but also in the western hemisphere. Edge is located on the 100th floor and will give you a breathtaking view of the city.
8. Empire State Building
| Height: 1,250 ft (381 m) |
| Address: 350 Fifth Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 102 |
Beautiful beautiful Empire State Building. You’ve probably seen this famous art deco skyscraper in movies and tv shows that take place in New York like Sleepless in Seattle, King Kong, Superman, Elf, How I Met Your Mother, and Gossip Girl. Empire State Building was built in 1931 and was designed by Shreve Lamb & Harmon. Empire State Building has observation decks that you can visit on the 86th and 102nd floor.
9. Bank of America Tower
| Height: 1,200 ft (366 m) |
| Address: 1101 Sixth Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 55 |
Bank of America tower comes in ninth place on the list. The building has 55 floors and is located in Midtown, Manhattan next to Bryant Park.
10. 3 World Trade Center
| Height 1,079 ft (329 m) |
| Address: 175 Greenwich Street |
| Neighborhood: Financial District |
| Floors: 69 |
3 World Trade Center was built at the same time as One World Trade Center year 2010 in the Financial District, Manhattan.
11. The Brooklyn Tower
| Height: 1,066 ft (325 m) |
| Address: 9 DeKalb Ave |
| Neighborhood: Brooklyn |
| Floors: 93 |
The Brooklyn Tower is not only one of the tallest buildings but the number one tallest in Brooklyn. This is mostly a residential building.
12. 53W53
| Height: 1,050 ft (320 m) |
| Address: 53 West 53rd Street |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 77 |
This building is located in Midtown right next to the MoMA museum. 53W53 has 77 floors and was finished in 2020.
13. Chrysler Building
| Height: 1,046 ft (319 m) |
| Address: 405 Lexington Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 77 |
This is one of the most famous buildings in New York City. The Chrysler Building is an old art deco building located in Midtown close to Grand Central Terminal on 42nd and Lexington Street. The Chrysler Building was actually the tallest building in the world for one year until the Empire State Building was finished in 1931.
14. The New York Times Building
| Height: 1,046 ft (319 m) |
| Address: 620 Eight Avenue |
| Neighborhood: Midtown |
| Floors: 52 |
Just like it sounds on the name, this is the home for The New York Times offices. The New York Times building is located in Midtown across the street from Port Authority Terminal.
Common questions about the tallest buildings in New York.
Which one is the tallest building in the US?
One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York, in the US, and also in the western hemisphere.
Is the Empire State Building the tallest building in New York?
No. Many people get this one wrong. The Empire State Building is not the tallest building in New York, One World Trade Center is. Of all the buildings in New York, Empire State Building comes in eight place and is 1,250 ft (381 m) tall. What not that many people know is that the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the whole world for 40 years until the first World Trade Center tower was built in 1970.
Which one is the tallest observation deck in New York?
Edge is the tallest observation deck in New York, and also on the western hemisphere. Edge is located on the 100th floor in the 30 Hudson Yards building.
Which one is the tallest residential building in New York?
The tallest residential building in New York is the Central Park Tower. The Central Park Tower is not only the tallest residential building in New York, but also in the western hemisphere.
Which one was the first skyscraper built in New York?
The first skyscraper ever built in New York was The Tower Building. It was built in 1889 and had 11 floors. It was torn down in 1913.