Last updated · MapElevation
Find your current elevation
When you ask “what is my current elevation,” the first task is to establish which location you mean. The location button requests a position from your browser only after you press it. You may see a browser permission prompt, and the outcome depends on your device, its settings, and the available positioning signals. The browser reports an estimated horizontal accuracy; it is not a promise that your position lies on an exact rooftop or road centreline.
After a successful position request, the map moves to the returned coordinate and samples the elevation dataset there. Read the pin as carefully as the height. If you are on a steep hillside and the pin appears on the opposite side of a road, the estimate may describe a different piece of terrain. The elevation map is useful for inspecting surrounding points before deciding whether the selected location matches your intended spot.
How to use this page
- Press Use my location when you are ready to request browser permission.
- Review the returned position and the device’s reported horizontal uncertainty.
- Read the terrain result in your preferred units and check the source reference.
- If permission or positioning fails, use the coordinate finder or select the map.
How browser location becomes an elevation estimate
The lookup follows a short chain: obtain a coordinate, identify its terrain tile, decode the elevation stored in that tile, and display the value with its source metadata. This separates location uncertainty from terrain uncertainty. A correct height sampled at the wrong coordinate is still the wrong answer to your question. Conversely, an accurate location does not improve the vertical quality of a coarse surface model.
The result is shown in feet or metres and rounded to avoid implying survey precision. Its Grade C label refers to the current Copernicus surface dataset. The elevation data accuracy guide explains the difference between horizontal spacing, vertical error, source type, and the effect of interpolation. The process does not obtain a new survey each time you press the button.
Why your phone may show a different altitude
A navigation app, a fitness watch, and a mapped surface can describe different measurements. The device may use satellite height, a barometric estimate, a corrected reference, or a dataset unrelated to this site. You might also be standing above the modeled ground on a bridge or upper floor. Comparing just the displayed numbers leaves out the information needed to explain their difference.
Read what is my altitude above sea level for an explanation of reference surfaces. In particular, an ellipsoidal height and a geoid-based elevation are not interchangeable. Even two geoid-based datasets can differ in how they model the surface and when they were collected. A unit conversion by itself cannot resolve a reference mismatch.
What to do when location access is unavailable
If your browser refuses access or cannot obtain a position, the page remains usable. Open the elevation finder to enter known coordinates. Use the address elevation finder if you have a complete supported address, and inspect the matched map position before accepting its height. You can also move the map manually and select the location you recognise.
A slow result is handled separately from a denied permission. The browser location attempt has a timeout, and terrain queries offer a retry path. Repeatedly pressing buttons during a poor connection can create new requests without improving the underlying signal. Wait for the status message, then choose whether to retry or use another input method.
Use the result for the question it can answer
Current mapped elevation is useful for orientation and learning about local terrain. It is not evidence that a home is outside a mapped hazard area. For a US property question, use flood zone by address and check the effective FEMA information. For a coastal scenario, read the assumptions on the sea level rise map before interpreting an overlay.
A reproducible example needs the coordinate returned by the browser, query date, terrain source, units, and displayed result. Device-location examples are awaiting that audit record; no example altitude has been invented. You can reproduce your own lookup by entering the same coordinate in the coordinate finder, while recognising that a later device position may differ.
Data sources and accuracy
Elevation estimates currently use Copernicus GLO-30, a digital surface model (DSM), sampled from Mapterhorn terrain tiles at zoom 12. Original resolution is approximately 30 metres: our Grade C. Buildings, trees, location errors, and the source vertical reference affect interpretation. A grid resolution is not a vertical error guarantee. The reference is the EGM2008 geoid; a reading must not be subtracted from a FEMA flood elevation in another datum.
Read about elevation data accuracy, source-specific limitations, and our current regional coverage.
Terrain licence and attribution
produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved
Frequently asked questions
What is my elevation right now?
Press Use my location and allow your browser to obtain a position. The tool then samples the terrain model at that coordinate. The result is the estimated elevation of the mapped surface, not a measurement of the height of your body, the floor you are on, or your device.
What is my altitude if location permission is denied?
You can still select a point on the map, submit a supported address, or use the coordinate finder. Denying location access does not disable the terrain dataset. If you choose to change permission later, use the browser’s site settings and then try the location button again.
Does this use my phone’s GPS elevation?
No. Browser location supplies a horizontal position, and this tool samples the selected terrain source. A device may separately report GPS altitude, but that value can use a different reference and has different uncertainty. The result card identifies the model and vertical reference used for the map reading.
Why does my current elevation change between attempts?
Your reported horizontal position can move between attempts, especially indoors or near tall buildings. On a slope, a small position shift can select a different terrain cell. Moving the marker deliberately has the same effect. Compare coordinates and source labels before interpreting a change as a real movement in height.
Can it tell which floor of a building I am on?
No. A terrain or surface model does not locate your phone within a building. A surface reading may include a structure or nearby tree canopy, but it is not a reliable height for a particular roof or floor. Use building records or a qualified survey for that purpose.
Is my location stored in analytics?
The performance events record query type, duration, status, page source, and language without precise coordinates or raw addresses. Separate coverage statistics use a coarse tile grid. Your browser and the external map providers still need to exchange requests to obtain map and terrain tiles for the area you view.