Michigan elevation
Michigan runs from 571 ft at Lake Erie to 1,979 ft at Mount Arvon, with an average of about 900 ft.
Highest point: Mount Arvon
1,979ft
603 m above sea level
Mount Arvon, Baraga County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Lake Erie
- 571 ft (174 m)
- NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 900 ft (274 m)
- Mean of 225 USGS points about 26 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
Michigan places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Lansing853 ft
Michigan elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Mount Arvon | 1,979 ft (603 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Lake Erie | 571 ft (174 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 1,408 ft (429 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 900 ft (274 m) | USGS 3DEP, 225 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 1,978 ft (603 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Lansing | 853 ft (260 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 56,611 sq mi (146,622 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 900 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (900 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 Michigan
- Ann Arbor881 ft
- Lansing (capital)853 ft
- Grand Rapids640 ft
- Warren623 ft
- Sterling Heights613 ft
- Detroit598 ft
Largest places in Michigan
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 598 ft (182 m) · pop. 645,705 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Grand Rapids | 640 ft (195 m) · pop. 200,117 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Warren | 623 ft (190 m) · pop. 137,686 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Sterling Heights | 613 ft (187 m) · pop. 134,342 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Ann Arbor | 881 ft (269 m) · pop. 122,925 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Michigan?
Mount Arvon at 1,979 ft (603 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Michigan?
Lake Erie, at 571 ft, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Michigan?
About 900 ft (274 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 225 points on a regular grid about 26 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Michigan city on this site is highest?
Lansing, at 853 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Michigan?
At 900 ft, water boils at about 210.4 °F (99.1 °C) and standard air pressure is 28.96 inHg (981 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 Michigan spans 1,408 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