How high is Boise?

◳Tap to explore in 3D

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Boise, from our satellite elevation model. Boise is marked at 2,710 ft (826 m); the highest ground in view reaches 8,665 ft (2,641 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

The regional view — Boise.

Elevation across Boise

Zooming into the city itself — Boise’s 10 neighborhoods on real terrain, each marked with its elevation.

◳Tap to explore in 3D

Boise’s neighborhoods span about 310 ft (about 90 m) — from 2,638 ft (804 m) at Beatty, up to 2,943 ft (897 m) at Highlands. Each figure is a Copernicus GLO-30 sample at the neighborhood’s USGS place-name point.

~310 ftelevation span across 10 neighborhoodsUSGS GNIS names · Copernicus GLO-30

Boise neighborhoods by elevation, highest to lowest, with the city center for reference

Neighborhood	Elevation
Highlandshighest	2,943 ft (897 m)
Boise Hills Village	2,867 ft (874 m)
Hillcrest	2,851 ft (869 m)
Barber	2,799 ft (853 m)
Vernon	2,766 ft (843 m)
Perkins	2,707 ft (825 m)
Collister	2,657 ft (810 m)
Ustick	2,657 ft (810 m)
Cloverdale	2,648 ft (807 m)
Beattylowest	2,638 ft (804 m)
Boise (city center)	2,710 ft (826 m)

Boise in Idaho

Here’s the useful context: Boise, at 2,710 ft (826 m), sits roughly 2,530 ft (771 m) below Idaho’s average elevation of 5,240 ft (1,597 m). Despite its reputation it’s on the lower side for its state — our model puts about 93% of Idaho’s land higher than the city.

The terrain around Boise

Across this view the land rises toward the east. The western third of the frame averages about 2,703 ft (824 m); the eastern third about 4,741 ft (1,445 m) — a climb of roughly 2,041 ft (622 m), topping out near 8,665 ft (2,641 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Boise sits against.

You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.

What Boise’s altitude means

At 2,710 ft (826 m), Boise is low enough that altitude barely registers. The air holds close to the oxygen your body expects nearer sea level, so arriving here brings none of the breathlessness or fast dehydration that higher cities do. If altitude is on your mind, this isn’t the place to worry about it.

How Boise compares

Among Idaho’s larger cities, Boise is ranked #7 of 10 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

• Pocatello — 4,465 ft (1,361 m)
• Twin Falls — 3,737 ft (1,139 m)
• Mountain Home — 3,146 ft (959 m)
• Boise — 2,710 ft (826 m)
• Coeur d'Alene — 2,198 ft (670 m)
• Sandpoint — 2,103 ft (641 m)
• Lewiston — 741 ft (226 m)

Boise elevation FAQ

How high is Boise?

Boise’s elevation is about 2,710 ft (826 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.

Is Boise high or low for Idaho?

On the low side. At 2,710 ft (826 m) it sits below Idaho’s average of 5,240 ft (1,597 m), with about 93% of the state higher.

Does Boise’s altitude affect visitors?

Not really. At 2,710 ft (826 m), Boise is low enough that the air feels much like it does near sea level.

Explore more

• ↑ Idaho’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
• · Blog: Average Elevation by State — where Idaho’s 5,240 ft (1,597 m) mean ranks.
• · Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Boise’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Idaho figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 216 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Neighborhood and landmark place names are from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS); their elevations are Copernicus GLO-30 samples at each named point. Data as of 2026-08-17.