List of tallest buildings in the Washington metropolitan area

The Washington metropolitan area, with a population of 6.4 million, is centered on Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. The Height of Buildings Act of 1899 and 1901 limits building heights in Washington D.C. to a maximum of 130 feet (40 m) in most cases. As a result, Washington D.C. is devoid of skyscrapers, and there are no buildings with over 20 stories. Instead, the majority of high-rise buildings in the area are located outside the capital. This distribution is unique among American cities. With 36 buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) as of 2026, the Washington metropolitan area has fewer tall buildings than other U.S. metropolitan areas of a similar size. It is the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a skyscraper taller than 492 feet (150 m). Since 2018, the tallest building in the Washington metropolitan area has been the 470 ft (143 m) Capital One Tower in Tysons, Virginia.

The Washington Monument, which rises 555 feet (169 m), has been the tallest free-standing structure in both Washington D.C. and its metropolitan area since its completion in 1884. However, as it is not a habitable building, the title of the tallest building in both Washington D.C. was taken by the Old Post Office in 1899 via its 315 ft (96 m) clock tower, which was constructed before the city's height restrictions were enacted. Before the 1980s, the only other buildings that surpassed 300 ft (91 m) in height were the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Beginning in the 1960s, the unincorporated area of Rosslyn in Arlington County, Virginia, was rezoned to allow for high-rise commercial development. Later urban plans included more residential space, orienting the area towards mixed-use development. In 1982, the Rosslyn Twin Towers became the tallest buildings in the metropolitan area. High-rise development became more common from the 1970s onwards in the metropolitan area. The Washington Metro, which opened in 1976, encouraged transit-oriented development in multiple locations besides Rosslyn. The rate of construction increased substantially in the 2010s, particularly in the census-designated place (CDP) of Tysons, also known as Tyson's Corner. Capital One Tower was completed there in 2018, and the metropolitan area's second tallest building, Capital One Center M3, was built nearby in 2022.

The two largest concentrations of high-rises are in Rosslyn, which sits southwest of Washington D.C. directly across the Potomac River, and in Tysons, which is about ten miles west of the capital. In addition to Rosslyn, significant high-rise clusters in Arlington County include Ballston and Crystal City (whose high-rise footprint extends to Pentagon City). Notable clusters elsewhere that include buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) include Bethesda, Maryland and Reston, Virginia. Shorter high-rise groupings can be found in Eisenhower East and Bailey's Crossroads in Virginia, and North Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring in Maryland. Besides Silver Spring, these clusters are all located west of Washington D.C.

History

Map of tallest buildings The following map shows the distribution of buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) in the Washington metropolitan area. Individual buildings that are not part of a cluster of multiple 300 ft (91 m) buildings are colored by their decade of completion and numbered by their height rank. The named clusters are shown in further detail below.

By cluster +RosslynTysonsCrystal City/Pentagon CityBethesda

Tallest buildings

This list ranks completed skyscrapers and high-rises in the Washington metropolitan area that stand at least 300 ft (91 m) tall as of 2026, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. The “Year” column indicates the year of completion. Free-standing structures are included for comparison purposes.

RankName ImageCityHeightft (m)FloorsYearPurpose Notes N/AWashington MonumentWashington, D.C.555 (169)31884MonumentTallest masonry structure in the District. Was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 until 1889, and the tallest monument in the U.S. until the completion of San Jacinto in 1939. Not a habitable building; included for comparison purposes.1Capital One TowerTysons, VA312018OfficeTallest building in Northern Virginia, second tallest building in Virginia, and tallest office building in the Washington metropolitan area.2 Skymark Reston Town CenterReston, VA402025Mixed-use The tallest building in Reston and the tallest mixed-use residential tower in the Washington Metropolitan Area.3Capital One Center M3Tysons, VA302022OfficeTopped out in 2021.4Central Place TowerRosslyn, VA312018OfficeTallest building in Arlington since 2017. The View of DC provides access to the top two floors, with a publicly accessible vantage point that opened June 21, 2018. Also known as CEB Tower.52000 Opportunity WayReston, VA282021Office61812 N MooreRosslyn, VA302014OfficeWas the tallest building in the Washington metropolitan area at the time of completion, overtaking the Rosslyn Twin Towers.7Hilton at The KeyRosslyn, VA362025Hotel Part of The Key. Full service hotel with 331 rooms, 28,000 SF of conference space, and retail. Formerly known as Dittmar Rosslyn Hotel.8Lumen at TysonsTysons, VA322019Residential9Rosslyn Twin Tower OneRosslyn, VA271980Office10Rosslyn Twin Tower TwoRosslyn, VA261982Office11One Skyline TowerBailey's Crossroads, VA261988OfficeTallest building in Bailey's Crossroads.12VITATysons, VA322014Residential13AdaireTysons, VA342016Residential14Rise at the Boro Tysons, VA332019Residential15Central Place Residential TowerRosslyn, VA312017Residential161801 North Lynn StreetRosslyn, VA242002Mixed-useMixed-use residential and office building.17NouvelleTysons, VA272015Residential18The WilsonBethesda, MD252021OfficeTallest building in Bethesda, in Montgomery County, and the tallest building in Maryland outside of Baltimore since 2021. Part of the Wilson & The Elm building complex.19Hilton Alexandria Mark CenterAlexandria, VA301985HotelTallest building in Alexandria.20George Washington Masonic National MemorialAlexandria, VA91932Museum21The ElmBethesda, MD292021ResidentialPart of the Wilson & The Elm building complex.22Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate ConceptionWashington, D.C.11959ReligiousTallest building in Washington, D.C. since 1959. Tallest building completed in the city in the 1950s.23Marriott International HeadquartersBethesda, MD222022Office24Metropolitan Park Building 6Pentagon City, VA232023OfficePart of Amazon HQ2. Joint-tallest building in Pentagon City.25Metropolitan Park Building 7/8Pentagon City, VA232023OfficePart of Amazon HQ2. Joint-tallest building in Pentagon City.26Tysons TowerTysons, VA222014Office27Old Post OfficeWashington, D.C.121899OfficeTallest building completed in Washington in the 19th century.28Turnberry TowerRosslyn, VA272009Residential 29 Verse at the BoroTysons, VA 25 2019 Residential 30The MatherTysons, VA272024ResidentialTwo apartment style high-rise buildings for adults 62 and older 31RevaCrystal City, VA272024Residential32The GraceCrystal City, VA262024Residential33Washington National CathedralWashington, D.C.71990ReligiousTallest structure completed in Washington, D.C. in the 1990s. Construction took place for over 80 years from 1907 to 1990, though the cathedral has been in use since 1912.34Two Waterview PlaceRosslyn, VA302007Mixed-useMixed-use residential and hotel building.35One Waterview PlaceRosslyn, VA242008OfficeContains retail units.36The HemingTysons, VA300 (91)282023ResidentialLuxury condominium building with 410 residential units and 40,000 square feet of retail space. Tallest under construction or proposed

Under construction As of 2026, there are no buildings under construction in the Washington metropolitan area that will be taller than 300 feet (91 m).

Proposed The following table ranks approved and proposed skyscrapers in the Washington metropolitan area that are expected to be at least 300 ft (91 m) tall as of 2026, based on standard height measurement. The “Year” column indicates the expected year of completion. A dash “–“ indicates information about the building is unknown or has not been released. NameCityHeightFloorsYearPurposeStatusNotesThe HelixPentagon City152027OfficeApprovedWill be part of Amazon HQ2.

Timeline of tallest buildings This table includes buildings that once held the title of tallest building in the Washington metropolitan area. The Washington Monument is excluded, as it is not a habitable building. It has been the tallest structure in the area since its completion in 1884. NameImageCityYears as tallestHeightft (m)FloorsNotesOld Post OfficeWashington, D.C.1899–193212George Washington Masonic National MemorialAlexandria, VA1932–19809Rosslyn Twin Tower OneRosslyn, VA1980–201427Title shared with Rosslyn Twin Tower Two.Rosslyn Twin Tower TwoRosslyn, VA1982–201426Title shared with Rosslyn Twin Tower One.1812 N MooreRosslyn, VA2014–201830Capital One TowerTysons, VA2018–present31

Skylines

Notes

See also

List of tallest buildings in Virginia List of tallest buildings in Washington, D.C. Architecture of Washington, D.C.

References