Alabama elevation
Alabama runs from sea level (Gulf of Mexico) to 2,407 ft at Cheaha Mountain, with an average of about 465 ft.
Highest point: Cheaha Mountain
2,407ft
734 m above sea level
Cheaha Mountain, Cleburne County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 465 ft (142 m)
- Mean of 225 USGS points about 24 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Alabama places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Montgomery238 ft
Alabama elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Cheaha Mountain | 2,407 ft (734 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 2,407 ft (734 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 465 ft (142 m) | USGS 3DEP, 225 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 2,405 ft (733 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Montgomery | 238 ft (73 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 50,651 sq mi (131,186 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 465 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (465 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 98 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Alabama
- Huntsville639 ft
- Birmingham609 ft
- Montgomery (capital)238 ft
- Tuscaloosa225 ft
- Mobile9 ft
Largest places in Alabama
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 639 ft (195 m) · pop. 230,402 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Mobile | 9 ft (3 m) · pop. 201,367 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Birmingham | 609 ft (186 m) · pop. 196,357 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Montgomery | 238 ft (73 m) · pop. 195,818 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Tuscaloosa | 225 ft (69 m) · pop. 114,288 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Alabama?
Cheaha Mountain at 2,407 ft (734 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Alabama?
Gulf of Mexico, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Alabama?
About 465 ft (142 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 225 points on a regular grid about 24 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Alabama city on this site is highest?
Montgomery, at 238 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Alabama?
At 465 ft, water boils at about 211.2 °F (99.5 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.42 inHg (996 hPa), so each breath holds about 98% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Alabama spans 2,407 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made