Elevation
Washington elevation
Washington, District of Columbia is 23 feet (7 meters) above sea level.
What 23 feet means in Washington
Among the 200 cities on this site, Washington is one of the lowest. At 23 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 Washington a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 29.90 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 Washington.
Cooking. Water boils at about 212 °F (100.0 °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 Washington
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 33 | 10 | 36 mi |
| Richmond, VA | 210 | 64 | 96 mi |
| Harrisburg, PA | 331 | 101 | 96 mi |
| Philadelphia, PA | 39 | 12 | 124 mi |
| Norfolk, VA | 7 | 2 | 147 mi |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 10 | 3 | 152 mi |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 764 | 233 | 190 mi |
| New York, NY | 33 | 10 | 204 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of Washington?
Washington, District of Columbia is about 23 feet (7 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 Washington because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 23 ft is about 29.90 inHg (1012 hPa), 100% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 100% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Washington.
At what temperature does water boil in Washington?
About 212 °F (100.0 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.