List of tallest buildings in Boston
, the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, is home to 251 completed high-rises, 32 of which stand taller than. The majority of the city's skyscrapers and high-rises are clustered in the Financial District and Back Bay neighborhoods. The tallest structure in Boston is the 60-story 200 Clarendon, better known to locals as the John Hancock Tower, which rises in the Back Bay district. It is also the tallest building in New England and the 63rd-tallest building in the United States. The second-tallest building in Boston is the Prudential Tower, which rises 52 floors and . At the time of the Prudential Tower's completion in 1964, it stood as the tallest building in North America outside of New York City.
Boston's history of skyscrapers began with the completion in 1893 of the 13-story Ames Building, which is considered the city's first high-rise. Boston went through a major building boom in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in the construction of over 20 skyscrapers, including 200 Clarendon and the Prudential Tower. The city is the site of 21 skyscrapers that rise at least in height, more than any other city in New England., the skyline of Boston is ranked 11th in the United States and 75th in the world with 49 buildings rising at least in height.
, several major development projects are poised to dramatically alter the city's skyline, including the Millennium Tower, Avalon North Station, Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences, One Dalton Street, The Hub on Causeway, and Bulfinch Crossing. In addition, there has been a continuous stream of proposals to construct skyscrapers that would rank among the tallest in the city if completed. Overall, there were 64 high-rise buildings under construction or proposed for construction in Boston.
Tallest buildings
Boston skyscrapers that stand at least 400 feet tall, based on standard height measurements, including spires and other architectural details, but not including antenna masts, are listed below.| Rank | Name | Image | Height ft | Floors | Year | Coordinates | Notes |
| 1 | 200 Clarendon Street | 60 | 1976 |
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| 2 | Prudential Tower | 52 | 1964 | ||||
| 3 | Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences, One Dalton Street | 61 | 2019 | ||||
| 4 | Millennium Tower | 60 | 2016 | ||||
| 5 | Federal Reserve Bank Building | 32 | 1976 | ||||
| 6 | One Boston Place | 41 | 1970 | ||||
| 7 | One International Place | 46 | 1987 | ||||
| 8 | 100 Federal Street | 37 | 1971 | ||||
| 9 | One Financial Center | 46 | 1983 | ||||
| 10 | 111 Huntington Avenue | 36 | 2002 | ||||
| 11 | Two International Place | 35 | 1992 | ||||
| 12 | One Post Office Square | 40 | 1981 | ||||
| 13 | One Federal Street | 38 | 1975 | ||||
| 14 | Exchange Place | 40 | 1984 | ||||
| 15 | 60 State Street | 38 | 1977 | ||||
| 16 | One Beacon Street | 37 | 1971 | ||||
| 17 | One Lincoln Street | 36 | 2003 | ||||
| 18 | 28 State Street | 40 | 1970 | ||||
| 19 | Hub on Causeway Residential Tower | 45 | 2019 | ||||
| 20 | Custom House Tower | 32 | 1915 | ||||
| 21 | Berkeley Building | 26 | 1947 | ||||
| 22T | 33 Arch Street | 33 | 2004 | ||||
| 22T | State Street Bank Building | 33 | 1966 | ||||
| 24 | Ritz-Carlton Towers Boston Common - Tower I | 38 | 2001 | ||||
| 25 | 125 High Street | 30 | 1991 | ||||
| 26 | 100 Summer Street | 32 | 1974 | ||||
| 27 | Avalon North Station | 38 | 2016 | ||||
| 28 | Ritz-Carlton Towers Boston Common - Tower II | 36 | 2001 | ||||
| 29 | Atlantic Wharf | 32 | 2011 | ||||
| 30 | McCormack Building | 22 | 1975 | ||||
| 31T= | Keystone Building | 32 | 1971 | ||||
| 31T= | Harbor Towers I | 40 | 1971 |
Tallest buildings by pinnacle height
Boston skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas, are listed below. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.| Rank | Name | Pinnacle height ft | Standard height ft | Reference |
| 1 | Prudential Tower | |||
| 2 | 200 Clarendon Street | |||
| 3 | Millennium Tower | |||
| 4 | One Financial Center | |||
| 5 | One Beacon Street | |||
| 6 | Federal Reserve Bank Building | |||
| 7 | One Boston Place | |||
| 8 | One International Place | |||
| 9 | 100 Federal Street | |||
| 10 | 111 Huntington Avenue | |||
| 11 | Two International Place |
Under construction
Skyscrapers under construction in Boston that are planned to be erected to at least tall, and are not yet completed structures:| Name | Height ft | Floors | Year* | Notes |
| Winthrop Square Tower | 52 | 2023 | Twin-peaked skyscraper will appear architecturally as "twin towers" upon the Boston skyline, with tops at 691' and 579'. | |
| South Station Tower | 51 | 2024 | ||
| Bulfinch Crossing: One Congress | 43 | 2024 | ||
| Bulfinch Crossing: Residential Tower | 45 | 2021 | ||
| The Hub on Causeway Office Tower | 31 | 2020 | The retail/ office podium serves as a subway/ commuter rail pedestrian connector. The residential tower and hotel were constructed first. | |
| The Alcott | 44 | 2022 | ||
| 40 Trinity Place | 33 | 2022 |
Tallest approved or proposed
Skyscrapers approved or proposed in Boston that are planned to be at least tall, and are not yet under construction:| Name | Height ft | Floors | Year* | Status | Notes |
| South Bay Tower | 67 | – | Proposed | ||
| One Bromfield | 59 | – | Proposed | ||
| Harbor Garage Tower | – | — | Proposed | 600' height variance approved by the Boston Planning and Development Agency on March 2, 2017. | |
| 101 Clarendon Street | 35 | — | Proposed | ||
| Back Bay Station Residences | 34 | — | Approved | ||
| 252-268 Huntington Ave | 33 | 2021 | Approved | "The Huntington". Will incorporate neighboring Huntington Theater Company building into its design. |
Tallest by neighborhood
Timeline of tallest buildings
For most of Boston's earlier years, the tallest buildings in the city were churches with their steeples. The first skyscraper in the city is generally considered the Ames Building, completed in 1893. However, since the 13-story building did not surpass the steeple of the Church of the Covenant, it never became a city record holder. The first skyscraper to have the distinction of being Boston's tallest building was the Custom House Tower, completed in 1915.| Name | Image | Street address | Years as tallest | Height ft | Floors | Coordinates | Reference |
| Old State House | 206 Washington Street | 1713-1745 | 3 | ||||
| Old North Church | 193 Salem Street | 1745-1810 | 1 | ||||
| Park Street Church | 1 Park Street | 1810-1867 | 1 | ||||
| Church of the Covenant | 67 Newbury Street | 1867-1915 | 1 | ||||
| Custom House Tower | 3 McKinley Square | 1915-1964 | 32 | ||||
| Prudential Tower | 800 Boylston Street | 1964-1976 | 52 | ||||
| Hancock Place | 200 Clarendon Street | 1976-present | 60 |