Delaware elevation
Delaware runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 448 ft at On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line, with an average of about 45 ft.
Highest point: On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line
448ft
137 m above sea level
On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line, New Castle County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 45 ft (14 m)
- Mean of 227 USGS points about 5 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
Delaware places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Dover29 ft
Delaware elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line | 448 ft (137 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 448 ft (137 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 45 ft (14 m) | USGS 3DEP, 227 grid points |
| Capital: Dover | 29 ft (9 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 1,949 sq mi (5,047 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 45 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (45 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 100 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
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 Delaware
- Newark126 ft
- Wilmington91 ft
- Middletown66 ft
- Dover (capital)29 ft
- Milford13 ft
Largest places in Delaware
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 91 ft (28 m) · pop. 73,176 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Dover | 29 ft (9 m) · pop. 40,191 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Newark | 126 ft (39 m) · pop. 30,506 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Middletown | 66 ft (20 m) · pop. 25,686 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Milford | 13 ft (4 m) · pop. 14,079 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Delaware?
On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line at 448 ft (137 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Delaware?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Delaware?
About 45 ft (14 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 227 points on a regular grid about 5 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Delaware city on this site is highest?
Dover, at 29 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Delaware?
At 45 ft, water boils at about 211.9 °F (100.0 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.87 inHg (1,012 hPa), so each breath holds about 100% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Delaware spans 448 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