Elevation
Butte elevation and altitude
Butte, Montana is 5,538 feet (1,688 meters) above sea level — about a mile high. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 5,538 feet means in Butte
Among the 689 cities on this site, Butte is one of the highest. At 5,538 ft the air holds noticeably less oxygen per breath than at the coast. Most people adapt within a few days; exercise feels harder at first.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Butte a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 24.40 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in Butte.
Cooking. Water boils at about 202 °F (94.3 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near Butte
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | 4,058 | 1,237 | 47 mi |
| Big Sky, MT | 7,218 | 2,200 | 75 mi |
| Bozeman, MT | 4,816 | 1,468 | 75 mi |
| Missoula, MT | 3,209 | 978 | 92 mi |
| West Yellowstone, MT | 6,663 | 2,031 | 116 mi |
| Great Falls, MT | 3,330 | 1,015 | 119 mi |
| Kalispell, MT | 2,956 | 901 | 173 mi |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 4,705 | 1,434 | 177 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of Butte?
Butte, Montana is about 5,538 feet (1,688 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Butte because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 5,538 ft is about 24.40 inHg (826 hPa), 82% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 82% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Butte.
At what temperature does water boil in Butte?
About 202 °F (94.3 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.