This is a list of tallest freestanding steel structures in the world past and present. To be a freestanding steel structure it must not be supported by guy wires, the list therefore does not include guyed masts and the main vertical and lateral structural elements and floor systems in the case of buildings, are constructed from steel. This type of construction is a rarity today as most tall buildings are built with a composite structure featuring a reinforced concrete core.

Oil platforms built using rigid steel jackets, such as the Bullwinkle (oil platform), are included and ranked as the local medium(water) does not provide any horizontal support. In fact they are over engineered specifically to resist water forces them rather than modulate them as compliant towers are designed to do.[citation needed]

Demolished structures and structures under construction are also included but not ranked.

Steel Structures (above 275 m / 900 ft in height)

  indicates a structures no longer standing.
  indicates a structure built in water.

Rank Name Pinnacle height (metres / feet) Year Type Main use Country City Remarks Coordinates
1 Tokyo Skytree 634 2,080 2012 Lattice tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Japan Tokyo Tallest structure in Japan. Tallest tower in the world. Inclusion on the list is somewhat arguable as it is not entirely a steel structure. While the external steel lattice does provide most of the structural support, the tower does also has a concrete core. The two are structurally separated from each other and the concrete core and steel frame compensate each other and reduce the overall motion of the building during dynamic events such as earthquakes.[1] 35°42′36.5″N 139°48′39″E / 35.710139°N 139.81083°E / 35.710139; 139.81083
2 Bullwinkle Platform 529 1,736 1989 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico When built the Bullwinkle platform was the second tallest freestanding structure in the world after the CN Tower.
3 Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) 527.0 1,729 1974 Skyscraper Office, observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Chicago Tallest building in the world 1974–1998 (by structural height). 41°52′44.1″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.636167°W / 41.878917; -87.636167
World Trade Center (1973–2001) 526.7[2] 1,728 1973 Skyscraper Office, observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  United States New York City Destroyed on 11 September 2001. Tallest freestanding structure that no longer exists. Tallest building in the world 1972–1974. 40°42′42″N 74°00′45″W / 40.71167°N 74.01250°W / 40.71167; -74.01250
4 Pompano Platform 477 1,565 1994 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
5 John Hancock Center 457.2 1,500 1969 Skyscraper Office, residential, FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Chicago World's tallest mixed-use building 1969–2008. 41°53′55.68″N 87°37′22.8″W / 41.8988000°N 87.623000°W / 41.8988000; -87.623000
6 Empire State Building 449 1,474 1931 Skyscraper Office, observation, UHF/VHF-transmission  United States New York City Tallest freestanding structure 1931–1967.
Tallest skyscraper 1931–1973.
First Skyscraper with 100+ stories. 		40°44′54.0″N 73°59′09″W / 40.748333°N 73.98583°W / 40.748333; -73.98583
7 Harmony Platform[3] 366 1,200 1992 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  South Korea[4][circular reference] California Height is only to water level, total height between 1,400 to 1,500 ft, built in South Korea
8 One Vanderbilt 427 1,401 2020 Skyscraper Office, observation  United States New York City 40°45′11″N 73°58′43″W / 40.7530°N 73.9785°W / 40.7530; -73.9785
JPMorgan Chase World Headquarters 423 1,388 u/c Skyscraper Office, observation  United States New York City
Two World Trade Center (1973–2001) 415.3 1,362 1973 Skyscraper Office, observation  United States New York City Destroyed on 11 September 2001. 40°42′42″N 74°00′45″W / 40.71167°N 74.01250°W / 40.71167; -74.01250
9 Coelacanth Platform[5] 400 1,312 2016 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
10 Virgo Platform[3] 344 1,130 1999 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico Height is only to water level, total height between 1,300 to 1,400 ft
11 Heritage Platform[3] 326 1,070 1992 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  South Korea[6][circular reference] California Height is only to water level, total height between 1,300 to 1,400 ft, built in South Korea
12 30 Hudson Yards 395 1,296 2019 Skyscraper Office, observation, retail  United States New York City Has the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. 40°45′17″N 74°00′14″W / 40.754661°N 74.003783°W / 40.754661; -74.003783
13 Zhongyuan Tower 388 1,273 2010 Steel tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  China Zhengzhou 34°43′29″N 113°43′22″E / 34.72472°N 113.72278°E / 34.72472; 113.72278
14 Cognac Platform[7] 385.5 1,265 1977 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
15 Kyiv TV Tower 385 1,263 1973 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  Ukraine Kyiv 50°28′16″N 30°27′12″E / 50.47111°N 30.45333°E / 50.47111; 30.45333
16 tie Jintang and Cezi islands Overhead Powerline Tie, East Tower[8] 380 1,247 2019 Lattice Tower Electricity pylon  China Jintang Island Tallest pylons in the world
16 tie Jintang and Cezi islands Overhead Powerline Tie, West tower 380 1,247 2019 Lattice Tower Electricity pylon  China Jintang Island Tallest pylons in the world
18 Tuntex Sky Tower 378 1,240 1997 Skyscraper Hotel, office, observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Taiwan Kaohsiung 22°36′42″N 120°18′0″E / 22.61167°N 120.30000°E / 22.61167; 120.30000
19 Tashkent Tower 374.9 1,230 1984 Steel tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Uzbekistan Tashkent 41°20′44.05″N 69°17′4.57″E / 41.3455694°N 69.2846028°E / 41.3455694; 69.2846028
20 Almaty Tower 371.5 1,219 1983 Steel tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Kazakhstan Almaty Tallest free-standing tubular steel structure. 43°13′44″N 76°58′34″E / 43.22889°N 76.97611°E / 43.22889; 76.97611
21 tie Zhoushan Island Overhead Powerline Tie North Tower 370 1,214 2010 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  China Zhoushan Island Second tallest set of electricity pylons in the world 29°56′2.78″N 122°2′10.12″E / 29.9341056°N 122.0361444°E / 29.9341056; 122.0361444
21 tie Zhoushan Island Overhead Powerline Tie South Tower 370 1,214 2010 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  China Zhoushan Island Second tallest set of electricity pylons in the world 29°54′41.39″N 122°1′26.38″E / 29.9114972°N 122.0239944°E / 29.9114972; 122.0239944
23 Riga Radio and TV Tower 368.5 1,209 1987 Steel tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Latvia Riga Tallest structure in the European Union. 56°55′26″N 24°08′14″E / 56.92389°N 24.13722°E / 56.92389; 24.13722
24 Amberjack Platform[3] 314 1,030 1991 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico Height is only to water level, total height between 1,200 to 1,300 ft
25 Aon Center 362.5 1,189 1973 Skyscraper Office  United States Chicago 41°53′07″N 87°37′17″W / 41.88528°N 87.62139°W / 41.88528; -87.62139
26 First Canadian Place 355 1,165 1975 Skyscraper Office, FM/TV-broadcasting  Canada Toronto Tallest skyscraper in Canada 43°38′55″N 79°22′54″W / 43.64861°N 79.38167°W / 43.64861; -79.38167
27 Hondo Platform[9] 354.5 1,163 1976 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
28 tie Yangtze River Crossing North Tower 347 1,138 2003 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  China Jiangyin 31°58′17″N 120°3′12″E / 31.97139°N 120.05333°E / 31.97139; 120.05333
28 tie Yangtze River Crossing South Tower 347 1,138 2003 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  China Jiangyin 31°57′4″N 120°2′53″E / 31.95111°N 120.04806°E / 31.95111; 120.04806
30 The Center 346 1,135 1998 Skyscraper Office  Hong Kong Hong Kong 22°17′05″N 114°09′16″E / 22.28472°N 114.15444°E / 22.28472; 114.15444
31 4 Times Square 340.7 1,118 2000 Skyscraper Office  United States New York City 40°45′21″N 73°59′09″W / 40.75583°N 73.98583°W / 40.75583; -73.98583
32 Dragon Tower 336 1,102 2000 Lattice tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  China Harbin 45°44′45.55″N 126°40′28″E / 45.7459861°N 126.67444°E / 45.7459861; 126.67444
33 Tokyo Tower 332.6 1,091 1958 Lattice tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Japan Tokyo Second tallest structure in Japan 35°39′31″N 139°44′44″E / 35.65861°N 139.74556°E / 35.65861; 139.74556
34 Minsheng Bank Building 331 1,087 2007 Skyscraper Office  China Wuhan 30°35′49″N 114°16′05″E / 30.597°N 114.268°E / 30.597; 114.268
35 WITI TV Tower 329.4 1,081 1962 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Shorewood (Milwaukee), Wisconsin 43°05′26″N 87°53′50″W / 43.09056°N 87.89722°W / 43.09056; -87.89722
36 tie Cerveza Platform[10] 327 1,073 1981 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
36 tie Cerveza Light Platform[10] 327 1,073 1981 Rigid Steel Jacket (truss tower) Oil Rig  United States Gulf of Mexico
38 tie St. Petersburg TV Tower 326 1,070 1962 Lattice tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  Russia St. Petersburg 59°58′36″N 30°19′15″E / 59.97667°N 30.32083°E / 59.97667; 30.32083
38 tie Linyi Radio and TV Tower[11] 326 1,070 2010 Steel tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting, Amusement ride  China Linyi 35°4′52″N 118°21′44″E / 35.08111°N 118.36222°E / 35.08111; 118.36222
40 Eiffel Tower 324 1,063 1889 Lattice tower Observation, FM/TV-broadcasting  France Paris Tallest structure in the world from 1889 to 1930; first structure to exceed 300 metres in height 48°51′29.6″N 2°17′40.2″E / 48.858222°N 2.294500°E / 48.858222; 2.294500
41 WHDH-TV Tower 323.8 1,062 1960 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  United States Newton, Massachusetts 42°18′41″N 71°12′58″W / 42.31139°N 71.21611°W / 42.31139; -71.21611
42 Chrysler Building 319 1,046 1930 Skyscraper Office  United States New York City Tallest structure in the world 1930–1931 40°45′06″N 73°58′31″W / 40.75167°N 73.97528°W / 40.75167; -73.97528
43 New York Times Building 319 1,046 2007 Skyscraper Office  United States New York City 40°45′23″N 73°59′24″W / 40.75639°N 73.99000°W / 40.75639; -73.99000
44 KCTV Broadcast Tower 317.6 1,042 1956 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  United States Kansas City 39°04′15″N 94°34′58″W / 39.07083°N 94.58278°W / 39.07083; -94.58278
The Spiral 314 1,041 u/c Skyscraper Office, observation  United States New York City
Turner Broadcasting tower (1967-2010) 314.3 1,031 1980 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  United States Atlanta, Georgia Demolished in 2010 33°46′57″N 84°23′19″W / 33.7825°N 84.388611°W / 33.7825; -84.388611
45 TV Tower Yerevan 311.7 1,023 1977 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  Armenia Yerevan 40°10′16.64″N 44°32′10.77″E / 40.1712889°N 44.5363250°E / 40.1712889; 44.5363250
46 U.S. Bank Tower 311 1,018 1990 Skyscraper Office  United States Los Angeles 34°03′04″N 118°15′15″W / 34.0510°N 118.2542°W / 34.0510; -118.2542
47 Fazilka TV Tower 304.8 1,000 2007 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  India Fazilka 30°23′44.42″N 74°1′57.87″E / 30.3956722°N 74.0327417°E / 30.3956722; 74.0327417
48 Wells Fargo Plaza 302 992 1983 Skyscraper Office  United States Houston 29°45′30″N 95°22′06″W / 29.7584396°N 95.3682630°W / 29.7584396; -95.3682630
49 tie Mumbai Television Tower 300 984 1972 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  India Mumbai 19°00′26″N 72°49′12″E / 19.00722°N 72.82000°E / 19.00722; 72.82000
49 tie Abeno Harukas 300 984 2014 Skyscraper Office, Observation  Japan Osaka Tallest skyscraper in Japan.[12] 34°38′45.6″N 135°30′48.2″E / 34.646000°N 135.513389°E / 34.646000; 135.513389
51 Sutro Tower 297.8 977 1973 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  United States San Francisco, California 37°45′19″N 122°27′10″W / 37.75523°N 122.45284°W / 37.75523; -122.45284
52 Landmark Tower 296.3 972 1993 Skyscraper Office, Observation  Japan Yokohama 35°27′17″N 139°37′54″E / 35.45472°N 139.63167°E / 35.45472; 139.63167
53 tie Tucuruí transmission line North Tower 295 968 2013 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  Brazil Jurupari island
53 tie Tucuruí transmission line South Tower 295 968 2013 Lattice tower Electricity pylon  Brazil Jurupari island
55 WKRQ Tower 294.6 967 1960's Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Cincinnati, Ohio 39°06′59″N 84°30′07″W / 39.11639°N 84.50194°W / 39.11639; -84.50194
56 Zhuzhou Television Tower 293 961 1999 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  China Shijiazhuang 27°49′17″N 113°06′49″E / 27.82139°N 113.11361°E / 27.82139; 113.11361
57 Star Tower 290.8 954 1991 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Cincinnati, Ohio Landmark tower design 39°12′01″N 84°31′22″W / 39.20028°N 84.52278°W / 39.20028; -84.52278
58 70 Pine Street 290.2 952 1932 Skyscraper Office  United States New York 40°42′23″N 74°00′27″W / 40.70639°N 74.00750°W / 40.70639; -74.00750
59 WLWT TV Tower 289.6 950 1978 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  United States Cincinnati, Ohio 39°07′27″N 84°31′18″W / 39.12417°N 84.52167°W / 39.12417; -84.52167
60 One Liberty Place 288 945 1987 Skyscraper Office  United States Philadelphia 39°57′08″N 75°10′04″W / 39.9522°N 75.1678°W / 39.9522; -75.1678
61 Dudelange Radio Tower 285 935 1957 Lattice tower FM-broadcasting  Luxembourg Dudelange 49°27′48″N 6°05′45″E / 49.46333°N 6.09583°E / 49.46333; 6.09583
62 tie Akashi Kaikyō Bridge North Tower 282.8 928 1998 Bridge Transportation  Japan Kobe 34°36′58″N 135°01′14″E / 34.6162°N 135.0205°E / 34.6162; 135.0205
62 tie Akashi Kaikyō Bridge South Tower 282.8 928 1998 Bridge Transportation  Japan Kobe 34°36′58″N 135°01′14″E / 34.6162°N 135.0205°E / 34.6162; 135.0205
62 tie Cheung Kong Centre 282.8 928 1999 Skyscraper Office  Hong Kong Hong Kong 22°16′46″N 114°09′37″E / 22.27944°N 114.16028°E / 22.27944; 114.16028
65 40 Wall Street 282.6 927 1930 Skyscraper Office  United States New York 40°42′25″N 74°00′35″W / 40.706964°N 74.009672°W / 40.706964; -74.009672
66 tie United Overseas Bank Plaza 280 919 1992 Skyscraper Office  Singapore Singapore 1°17′08″N 103°50′59″E / 1.28555°N 103.84972°E / 1.28555; 103.84972
66 tie Shijiazhuang TV-tower 280 919 1998 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  China Shijiazhuang 38°01′15.81″N 114°31′40.14″E / 38.0210583°N 114.5278167°E / 38.0210583; 114.5278167
66 tie AIR tower 280 919 2013 Lattice tower FM-broadcasting  India Amritsar originally intended to be 300 m tall[13] currently 280 m[14] due to a tilt in the towers angle.[15] 31°36′56.58″N 74°39′54.49″E / 31.6157167°N 74.6651361°E / 31.6157167; 74.6651361
69 Citigroup Center 278.9 915 1977 Skyscraper Office  United States New York 40°45′31″N 73°58′13″W / 40.758533°N 73.970314°W / 40.758533; -73.970314
70 OUB Centre 277.8 911 1992 Skyscraper Office  Singapore Singapore 1°17′05″N 103°51′04″E / 1.2846°N 103.8510°E / 1.2846; 103.8510
71 Net 25 Tower 276.4 907 1990 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  Philippines Quezon City 14°39′45″N 121°03′36″E / 14.66250°N 121.06000°E / 14.66250; 121.06000
72 WCPO TV Tower 276 905 1965 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  United States Cincinnati, Ohio 39°07′30″N 84°29′56″W / 39.12500°N 84.49889°W / 39.12500; -84.49889
73 Perm TV tower[16] 275 902 2016 Lattice tower FM/TV-broadcasting  Russia Perm 58°21′40″N 56°17′27″E / 58.36111°N 56.29083°E / 58.36111; 56.29083
74 tie Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower 275 901 1972 Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  Georgia Tbilisi 41°41′45″N 44°47′05″E / 41.69583°N 44.78472°E / 41.69583; 44.78472
74 tie RCTI TV Tower[17] 275 901 ? Lattice tower TV-broadcasting  Indonesia Jakarta
74 tie Williams Tower 275 901 1982 Skyscraper Office  United States Houston 29°44′14″N 95°27′41″W / 29.73722°N 95.46139°W / 29.73722; -95.46139

See also

References

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  13. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Doordarshan, AIR tower lying defunct, yet to rule air waves in Amritsar". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  14. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Government move to reduce height of AIR tower draws flak". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  15. ^ Dutta, Amrita Nayak (September 24, 2018). "Here's why AIR bid to check Pakistan's radio propaganda in Punjab is doomed to fail". Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Радиостанции в Перми, Россия / Radio stations in Perm, Russia — Radiomap.eu". Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  17. ^ Rirdan, Daniel (July 29, 2012). The Blueprint: Averting Global Collapse. Daniel Rirdan. ISBN 9781470135881. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2020 – via Google Books.
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