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Elevation

Elevation of Columbus

780ft

above sea level · 238 m

Columbus is the capital of Ohio and its most populous city, with 938,396 people. Of the 50 state capitals, it’s the 19th highest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
39.96° N · 83.00° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 39° 57′ 40″ N · 82° 59′ 56″ W
UTM coordinates
17S · 329,281 E · 4,425,361 N
Zone 17 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Franklin County
The city spans 3 counties; its reference point is in this one
State
Ohio
OH · capital: Columbus
Time zone
Eastern Time
UTC−5 · UTC−4 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
938,396 people
222 sq mi of land · 4,228 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from December 2022: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Columbus had 938,396 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 3.6% more than in April 2020, when it had 906,215. Its 222 sq mi of land work out to 4,228 people/sq mi; the state average is 291 people/sq mi.

It’s the most populous of the 1,265 places the Census counts in Ohio (cities, towns and CDPs), and holds 7.9% of the state’s population.

The city spreads across 3 counties. By population: Franklin County (911,199), Delaware County (15,455), and Fairfield County (11,742). Its reference point, where we measure the elevation, is in Franklin County.

Compared with other state capitals

Columbus sits at 780 ft (238 m) above sea level. Of the 50 state capitals, the highest is Santa Fe (6,997 ft) and the lowest is Providence (9 ft). The average is 1,098 ft: Columbus is 318 ft below it.

Among the 91 cities with more than 250,000 people, it’s the 31st highest.

Of the 4 cities in Ohio with a page, Columbus is the highest. The others are Cleveland (654 ft), Toledo (611 ft), and Cincinnati (552 ft).

The highest point in Ohio is Campbell Hill, at 1,550 ft according to the USGS: 770 ft above Columbus, 47 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 17 Lansing 853 ft
  2. 18 St. Paul 789 ft
  3. 19 Columbus 780 ft
  4. 20 Indianapolis 730 ft
  5. 21 Jefferson City 630 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Columbus and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Columbus with any other point on the map. Map of Franklin County The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Columbus and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Ohio counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Columbus.

What is the elevation of Columbus?

Columbus is 780 feet (238 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Columbus?

Latitude 39.96118 and longitude -82.99879, in decimal degrees (39° 57′ 40″ N · 82° 59′ 56″ W). In UTM, zone 17: 329,281 E and 4,425,361 N, on NAD83.

How does Columbus rank among the highest state capitals?

It’s the 19th highest of the 50 state capitals. The highest is Santa Fe (6,997 ft) and the lowest is Providence (9 ft).

What county is Columbus in?

Several: Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County. Most of its people live in Franklin County.

Which is higher, Columbus or Cincinnati?

Columbus. Columbus sits at 780 ft and Cincinnati at 552 ft: a difference of 228 ft, 100 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know