What Is My Elevation? Find Out Instantly
Press “Use my location” and get your current elevation in feet and meters — from the Copernicus DEM, the European Union's official 90-meter global elevation model. Free, no signup.
Press “Use my location” (browser will ask for permission — the coordinates stay in your browser and only a lookup request leaves it), or enter coordinates manually.
How this elevation lookup works
Your device provides coordinates (latitude and longitude); those are looked up against the Copernicus DEM — the EU's global elevation model, 90-meter resolution, derived from Sentinel satellite radar. The lookup happens through Open-Meteo's free API; your coordinates are used for the query and nothing is stored.
Honest precision note: phone GPS is excellent horizontally (±5 m) but weak vertically (±10–30 m), and the DEM itself smooths terrain to a 90 m grid. Expect the reading to be right within roughly a few meters for open terrain — less reliable inside tall buildings. For survey-grade elevation, use a professional GPS or a certified topographic survey.
Elevation reference points
| Place | Elevation |
|---|---|
| New Orleans (lowest US city) | −2 to 6 ft |
| Miami | ≈ 6 ft |
| Houston | ≈ 50 ft |
| Chicago | ≈ 594 ft |
| Denver (mile high) | ≈ 5,280 ft |
| Grand Canyon rim (South) | ≈ 6,900 ft |
| Mount Whitney (highest US peak, lower 48) | 14,505 ft |
Curious about the terrain around you rather than a single point? The radius map tool shows the surrounding area, and the distance calculator displays exact coordinates for any point you pick.
Why people look up elevation
Hiking & outdoors. Check how high a trailhead or campsite sits before altitude-sensitive trips.
Flood & insurance checks. Compare your property's elevation against local base flood elevations (verify officially — this tool is approximate).
Aviation & weather. Elevation affects cooking times, temperature and density altitude calculations.
Gardening & building. Elevation hints at climate, drainage and frost exposure for planting and construction.
Frequently asked questions
What is my elevation right now?
Press 'Use my location' above — the browser shares your coordinates and the tool looks up the terrain elevation from the Copernicus DEM. The readout appears in feet and meters instantly.
How accurate is this elevation reading?
Two factors: phone GPS vertical accuracy is ±10–30 m even with a strong signal, and the elevation model is a 90 m grid. Combined, expect accuracy within roughly 5–15 m in open terrain. Inside buildings or under tree cover, GPS degrades further.
What is the difference between elevation and altitude?
They're used interchangeably here — both mean height above sea level. Technically 'elevation' refers to a point on the ground and 'altitude' to height above ground level (e.g. an aircraft). The FAA's 'air mile' uses the nautical mile, unrelated to vertical height.
Does this work without an internet connection?
No — the elevation lookup needs a network request to the Copernicus DEM via Open-Meteo. Your coordinates come from the device, but the terrain lookup is online.
Can I look up the elevation of any place, not just where I am?
Yes — enter any latitude and longitude manually (e.g. from Google Maps: right-click a point → the numbers are the coordinates), then press Look up.
Why does my elevation look wrong?
Most often: the GPS fix hadn't settled yet (wait 30 seconds outdoors), the DEM smooths a 90 m grid (cliffs and slopes get averaged), or you're indoors where GPS bounces. Tall buildings can also reflect GPS signals.
Page last updated . Data sources and methodology are described in the sections above and in About.
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Start with the elevation lookup above — free, no signup, no usage caps.