Maine elevation
Maine runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 5,268 ft at Mount Katahdin, with an average of about 744 ft.
Highest point: Mount Katahdin
5,268ft
1,606 m above sea level
Summit, Piscataquis 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)
- 744 ft (227 m)
- Mean of 245 USGS points about 19 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
Maine places on this site
Mountains and peaks
- Mount Katahdin5,268 ft
Maine elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Mount Katahdin | 5,268 ft (1,606 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 | 5,268 ft (1,606 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 744 ft (227 m) | USGS 3DEP, 245 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 5,263 ft (1,604 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Augusta | 123 ft (38 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 30,845 sq mi (79,888 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 744 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (744 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 97 % 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 Maine
- Lewiston218 ft
- Auburn192 ft
- Augusta (capital)123 ft
- Bangor115 ft
- Portland53 ft
- South Portland26 ft
Largest places in Maine
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | 53 ft (16 m) · pop. 69,568 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Lewiston | 218 ft (66 m) · pop. 38,772 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Bangor | 115 ft (35 m) · pop. 32,446 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| South Portland | 26 ft (8 m) · pop. 26,994 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Auburn | 192 ft (59 m) · pop. 25,200 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Maine?
Mount Katahdin at 5,268 ft (1,606 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Maine?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Maine?
About 744 ft (227 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 245 points on a regular grid about 19 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Does altitude affect cooking in Maine?
At 744 ft, water boils at about 210.6 °F (99.2 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.13 inHg (986 hPa), so each breath holds about 97% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Maine spans 5,268 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