List of tallest buildings in Chicago

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, with a metropolitan area of over 9 million people. It is home to over 1,250 completed high-rises, 137 of which stand taller than 492 feet (150 m) as of 2026^[update]. The birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago has always played a prominent role in their development, and its skyline spans the full history of skyscraper construction. The tallest building in the city is the 110-story Willis Tower (also known as the Sears Tower), which rises 1,451 feet (442 m) in the Chicago Loop and was completed in 1974. Of the fifteen tallest buildings in the United States, five are in Chicago. Chicago's skyline is the second largest in the United States, in North America, and in the Western Hemisphere, after New York City.

The Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885, is regarded as the world's first skyscraper. This building used the steel-frame method, innovated in Chicago; it was originally built with 10 stories, and later expanded to 12, to a height of 180 feet (55 m), an enormous height for the 19th century. Being the inventor of the skyscraper, Chicago went through a series of early high-rise construction booms that lasted from the 1880s to the mid-1930s, during which nine of the city's 100 tallest buildings were completed. Chicago and New York City were the only cities in the world with large, high-rise skylines during the first half of the 20th century. Chicago then went through an even larger building boom that lasted from the early 1960s to the early 1990s, in which many notable commercial skyscrapers were built, such as the city's fourth-tallest building, the Aon Center, its fifth tallest, 875 North Michigan Avenue (originally known as the John Hancock Center), and Willis Tower, which was the tallest building in the world upon its completion until 1993, and the tallest in the United States until 2013. For most of the 20th century until the 1990s, Chicago had the second largest skyline in the world.

A third boom began in the 2000s, which saw the completion of the city's second tallest building, the Trump International Hotel & Tower, and its third tallest, St Regis Chicago, the tallest structure designed by a woman. Chicago leads the nation in the twenty tallest women-designed towers in the world, thanks to contributions by Jeanne Gang and Natalie de Blois. The skyline has expanded into the South Loop with skyscrapers such as NEMA Chicago and One Museum Park, as well as westwards into the West Loop and Fulton Market areas. Wolf Point is home to a number of new developments such as Salesforce Tower Chicago. Other notable new skyscrapers include 110 North Wacker (2020), One Chicago Square (2022), and 1000M (2024). The tallest building under construction is 400 Lake Shore, built on the site of the cancelled Chicago Spire project; it scheduled to be completed by 2027.

The tallest buildings in Chicago are concentrated in the downtown areas of the Loop, Streeterville, River North, the South Loop, and the West Loop. Other high-rises extend north along the waterfront into North Side districts such as the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Uptown and Edgewater, bounded by Lake Michigan to the east. Some high-rises also extend south from downtown along the waterfront to South Side districts such as Kenwood, Hyde Park, and South Shore, ultimately forming a contiguous area of high-rises that is among the largest in the United States. Chicago's skyline is a cultural icon of the city, and has appeared in a variety of films and popular media.

History

Chicago grew to become the second-largest city in the United States as a railroad and trading hub. After a big fire destroyed most of the wooden structures in the city in 1871, Chicago was rebuilt using new rules that stopped wooden construction. This led to the building of taller buildings. New inventions like the elevator and better heating, lighting, and ventilation made taller buildings possible.

The first skyscraper in the world was the 10-story Home Insurance Building, built in 1885. It was the first to use structural steel in its metal frame, which allowed it to be taller and stronger. This idea quickly caught on in Chicago, and by 1893, the city had built 12 skyscrapers between 16 and 20 stories tall. These buildings were clustered in the center of the financial district and included famous examples like the Tacoma Building, The Rookery, and the Monadnock Building.

Chicago's building boom continued into the early 20th century until World War I began. The city's elevated train network opened by 1910, making it easier for workers to come downtown. By the end of the 1910s, Chicago had the second-largest number of headquarters in the United States. Architectural firms continued to design skyscrapers in the Chicago style. The Masonic Temple Building was overtaken in height by the Montgomery Ward Building in 1899.

After World War I, a larger building boom happened in the 1920s until the early 1930s. The 1892 height limit was relaxed in 1920, and in 1923, Chicago passed its first comprehensive zoning ordinance, allowing taller towers with more controls. The Wrigley Building was Chicago's tallest building from 1922 to 1924. In 1924, the Wrigley Building was surpassed by the Chicago Temple Building, the first skyscraper in Chicago to exceed 150 metres (490 ft). The Morrison Hotel became the tallest hotel building in the world when it was built in 1925. Other notable buildings from this time include the Pittsfield Building, the Carbide & Carbon Building, and the Palmolive Building, all showing Art Deco style. The Civic Opera Building, built in 1930, included office space and a large opera house.

The Great Depression ended the skyscraper boom in the early 1930s. After the Field Building was completed in 1934, very few high-rises were built in Chicago until the mid-1950s. The Promontory Apartments, completed in the 1940s, were the tallest building of that decade. The lull in building was broken by the Prudential Building in 1955, which became the city's second tallest building. The Inland Steel Building, completed in 1958, defined high-rises for the post-war era of modern architecture.

Skyscraper building returned in the 1960s, with Chicago entering a larger building boom. The city embraced residential skyscrapers, and apartment towers spread along Lake Michigan. The Service Employees International Union financed the Marina City complex, completed in 1964, known for its unique corn cob-like design. The Lake Point Tower, built in 1968, was the tallest apartment building in the world at the time.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building was overtaken in height by the Chicago Civic Center in 1965, later renamed the Richard J. Daley Center. The 875 North Michigan Avenue building, completed in 1969 as the John Hancock Center, was the first supertall skyscraper in Chicago. The Standard Oil Building, later renamed the Aon Center, was completed in 1973. The Sears Tower, completed in 1974, became the tallest building in the world.

The 1980s saw a productive decade for skyscrapers in Chicago, influenced by Postmodern architectural trends. Notable buildings include the Franklin Center and Two Prudential Plaza. The 2000s were a period of strong growth for Chicago's skyline, with 31 skyscrapers taller than 492 feet completed between 2000 and 2009. Residential skyscrapers became more common as downtown living grew popular.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower, completed in 2009, became the second-tallest building in Chicago. The Aqua building, completed in 2009, was designed by Jeanne Gang and featured an undulating facade. The St. Regis Chicago, also designed by Gang, became the city's third tallest building when it was completed in 2020.

In the 21st century, new areas like the South Loop and West Loop have become home to new skyscrapers. One Museum Park, completed in 2009, was the tallest building on the South Side. NEMA Chicago, built in 2019, and 1000M, completed in 2024, are also notable. Large-scale developments like The 78, Lincoln Yards, and Bronzeville Lakefront are planned but not yet fully realized. Chicago's tallest proposed building is the Tribune East Tower, which would be over 1,400 feet tall if built.

Cityscape

Map of tallest buildings

This map shows where the tallest buildings in Chicago are located. Most of these tall buildings are in Downtown Chicago. The colors on the map show which decade each building was finished in.

Tallest buildings

Chicago has many tall buildings, called skyscrapers. As of 2026, there are 137 skyscrapers in Chicago that are at least 492 feet (150 m) tall. These buildings are measured by their height, including parts like spires but not antennas.

Some buildings become the tallest when they are first built. Others are still being built and have reached their full height but are not yet finished.

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

This list shows Chicago's skyscrapers ranked by their total height, including things like radio masts and antennas. It also includes their standard height for comparison. The "Year" column shows when each building was completed.

Tallest demolished

Only one building in Chicago was torn down that was at least 492 feet (150 m) tall.

Tallest under construction

There is one building being built in Chicago that is expected to be at least 492 feet (150 m) tall by the year 2026.

Tallest unbuilt

This section talks about buildings that were planned to be very tall in Chicago—over 800 feet (244 meters)—but were never built. These buildings had approval but were cancelled before they could be completed. It does not include ideas like the Gateway Tower or the Miglin-Beitler Skyneedle that were never really meant to be built. It also leaves out projects that did not get approval from the Chicago Plan Commission, such as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Residence Tower.

Timeline of tallest buildings

Chicago has many very tall buildings. As of 2026, over 1,250 buildings have been built, and 137 of them are taller than 492 feet. Chicago is famous for being the place where tall buildings, called skyscrapers, were first built.