Elevation
Chicago elevation
Chicago, Illinois is 587 feet (179 meters) above sea level.
What 587 feet means in Chicago
Among the 200 cities on this site, Chicago is around the middle. At 587 ft the thinner air is not something most people notice day to day.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Chicago a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 29.29 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 Chicago.
Cooking. Water boils at about 211 °F (99.4 °C) here, almost the same as at sea level. 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 elevation where you are standing, use What is my elevation?
Elevation of places near Chicago
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 617 | 188 | 83 mi |
| Madison, WI | 876 | 267 | 123 mi |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 640 | 195 | 127 mi |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 810 | 247 | 140 mi |
| Indianapolis, IN | 715 | 218 | 164 mi |
| Green Bay, WI | 591 | 180 | 185 mi |
| Toledo, OH | 610 | 186 | 211 mi |
| Dayton, OH | 738 | 225 | 232 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of Chicago?
Chicago, Illinois is about 587 feet (179 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 Chicago because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 587 ft is about 29.29 inHg (992 hPa), 98% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 98% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Chicago.
At what temperature does water boil in Chicago?
About 211 °F (99.4 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.