UpToWhereWhat can you see from Chrysler Building?
It held the world's tallest record for only eleven months before the Empire State Building claimed it.
From Chrysler Building, the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 143 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 143 km to the north-northwest (bearing 346°), at 1,266 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 1,946,948 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the northeast, where sightlines run 84.3 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the west-northwest, at 57.7 km.
| N | 73.2 km | |
| NNE | 77.4 km | |
| NE | 84.3 km | |
| ENE | 76.0 km | |
| E | 65.8 km | |
| ESE | 78.3 km | |
| SE | 78.3 km | |
| SSE | 78.3 km | |
| S | 74.7 km | |
| SSW | 63.4 km | |
| SW | 70.6 km | |
| WSW | 70.7 km | |
| W | 70.6 km | |
| WNW | 57.7 km | |
| NW | 59.0 km | |
| NNW | 64.2 km |
About Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building opened on May 27, 1930, standing 1,046 feet tall and briefly becoming the world's tallest building. Designed by architect William Van Alen, it represents the height of Art Deco style with its gleaming stainless steel sunburst crown, chrome-plated gargoyles modelled after 1929 Chrysler hood ornaments, and dramatic terraced silhouette. Its record lasted only eleven months before the Empire State Building surpassed it in 1931, yet the Chrysler's elegant spire remains one of the most striking features of the Manhattan skyline.
Did you know?
- Architect William Van Alen secretly assembled the building's 38-metre spire inside the fire shaft and hoisted it into place in about 90 minutes, outmanoeuvring a rival architect racing to claim the 'world's tallest' title.
- Walter Chrysler paid for the building personally, rather than through his car company, specifically so it would pass to his children as part of his estate.
- Its sunburst-patterned stainless steel spire and chrome gargoyles are iconic Art Deco design elements.
- The tower's silhouette is thought to have inspired the Toblerone chocolate bar wrapper design.
- There is no public observation deck, though the building's crown is visible from many Manhattan viewpoints.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Chrysler Building?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 143 km from Chrysler Building. The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 71.4 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Chrysler Building?
The farthest terrain visible from Chrysler Building lies 143 km to the north-northwest, at an elevation of 1,266 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Chrysler Building?
The observation point at Chrysler Building sits at 418 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
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