Texas elevation
Texas runs from sea level (Gulf of Mexico) to 8,749 ft at Guadalupe Peak, with an average of about 1,614 ft.
Highest point: Guadalupe Peak
8,749ft
2,667 m above sea level
Guadalupe Peak, Culberson 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)
- 1,614 ft (492 m)
- Mean of 225 USGS points about 56 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
Texas places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Austin487 ft
Texas elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Guadalupe Peak | 8,749 ft (2,667 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 | 8,749 ft (2,667 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 1,614 ft (492 m) | USGS 3DEP, 225 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 8,742 ft (2,665 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Austin | 487 ft (148 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 261,259 sq mi (676,657 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 1,614 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (1,614 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 94 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- Canning adjustments
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 Texas
- Fort Worth653 ft
- San Antonio649 ft
- Austin (capital)487 ft
- Dallas428 ft
- Houston36 ft
Largest places in Texas
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | 36 ft (11 m) · pop. 2,390,125 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| San Antonio | 649 ft (198 m) · pop. 1,526,656 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Dallas | 428 ft (131 m) · pop. 1,326,087 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Fort Worth | 653 ft (199 m) · pop. 1,008,106 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Austin | 487 ft (148 m) · pop. 993,588 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Texas?
Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 ft (2,667 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Texas?
Gulf of Mexico, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Texas?
About 1,614 ft (492 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 225 points on a regular grid about 56 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Texas city on this site is highest?
Austin, at 487 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Texas?
At 1,614 ft, water boils at about 209.1 °F (98.4 °C) and standard air pressure is 28.22 inHg (956 hPa), so each breath holds about 94% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Texas spans 8,749 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