Elevation
San Francisco elevation
San Francisco, California is 52 feet (16 meters) above sea level.
What 52 feet means in San Francisco
Among the 200 cities on this site, San Francisco is one of the lowest. At 52 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 San Francisco a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 29.86 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 San Francisco.
Cooking. Water boils at about 212 °F (99.9 °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 San Francisco
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, CA | 43 | 13 | 8 mi |
| San Jose, CA | 85 | 26 | 42 mi |
| Sacramento, CA | 30 | 9 | 75 mi |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 6,237 | 1,901 | 154 mi |
| Fresno, CA | 308 | 94 | 162 mi |
| Reno, NV | 4,505 | 1,373 | 186 mi |
| Mammoth Lakes, CA | 7,881 | 2,402 | 189 mi |
| Bakersfield, CA | 404 | 123 | 251 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of San Francisco?
San Francisco, California is about 52 feet (16 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 San Francisco because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 52 ft is about 29.86 inHg (1011 hPa), 100% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 100% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in San Francisco.
At what temperature does water boil in San Francisco?
About 212 °F (99.9 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.