List of tallest buildings in Chicago

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, with a big area of over 9 million people. It has many tall buildings, called high-rises. As of 2026, over 1,250 high-rises have been built, and 137 of them are taller than 492 feet (150 m). Chicago is known as the place where the first skyscraper was built. The tallest building in Chicago is the 110-story Willis Tower (also called the Sears Tower). It is 1,451 feet (442 m) tall and was finished in 1974. Five of the fifteen tallest buildings in the United States are in Chicago.

The first skyscraper in the world was the Home Insurance Building, finished in 1885. It was built using a special method called the steel-frame method, created in Chicago. This building had 10 stories at first and was later made taller to 12 stories, reaching 180 feet (55 m). Chicago built many tall buildings from the 1880s to the mid-1930s. During the 1960s to the early 1990s, even more big buildings were built, including the Aon Center, 875 North Michigan Avenue (once called the John Hancock Center), and the Willis Tower.

A new building boom happened in the 2000s. This time, the city's second tallest building, the Trump International Hotel & Tower, and its third tallest, St Regis Chicago, were completed. Chicago has many tall buildings designed by women, more than any other place in the United States. New tall buildings have been built in different parts of Chicago, such as the South Loop, West Loop, and Fulton Market areas. Some new buildings include NEMA Chicago, One Museum Park, Salesforce Tower Chicago, 110 North Wacker, One Chicago Square, and 1000M. The tallest building being built now is 400 Lake Shore.

The tallest buildings in Chicago are mostly in downtown areas like the Loop, Streeterville, River North, the South Loop, and the West Loop. Tall buildings also line the waterfront, going north into areas like the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Uptown, and Edgewater, and south into places like Kenwood, Hyde Park, and South Shore. Chicago's tall buildings are a famous part of the city and have been shown in movies and popular media.

History

Chicago grew to become the second-largest city in the United States as a railroad and trading center. After a big fire destroyed many wooden buildings in 1871, Chicago rebuilt with 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.

Chicago's building boom continued until World War I began. The city's elevated train network opened by 1910, making it easier for workers to come downtown. Architectural firms continued to design skyscrapers in the Chicago style.

After World War I, a larger building boom happened in the 1920s until the early 1930s. 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). 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. The Inland Steel Building, completed in 1958, defined high-rises for the post-war era.

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. 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. Notable buildings include the Franklin Center and Two Prudential Plaza. The 2000s were a period of strong growth for Chicago's skyline. 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. 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. Most of these tall buildings are in Downtown Chicago. The colors on the map show when each building was finished.

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 how tall they are, 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 how tall they are, 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 will be at least 492 feet (150 m) tall by 2026.

Tallest unbuilt

This section talks about buildings that were planned to be very tall in Chicago—over 800 feet—but were never built. These buildings had approval but were cancelled before they could be completed. It does not include ideas that were never really meant to be built, like the Gateway Tower or the Miglin-Beitler Skyneedle. 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, more than 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.