Everest is a bit of a moving target. If you grew up reading textbooks from the nineties, you probably have the number 29,028 feet burned into your brain. It was the gold standard for decades. But honestly, the Earth doesn't really care about our textbooks.
So, let's get right to it. How many ft is Mt Everest as of 2026?
The current official height is 29,031.7 feet (8,848.86 meters).
This isn't just a random guess by a guy with a long tape measure. It’s the result of a massive, politically charged, and technically grueling joint project between Nepal and China. They settled on this number in late 2020, ending years of bickering over whether you should count the snow on top or just the bare rock.
How Many Ft is Mt Everest and Why Does it Keep Changing?
Mountains feel permanent. You look at a giant hunk of rock like Everest and assume it’s been that height since the dawn of time.
It hasn't.
The Himalayas are basically the result of a slow-motion car crash. The Indian tectonic plate is constantly shoving itself under the Eurasian plate. This collision is what crumpled the land upward in the first place, and it’s still happening. Because of this, Everest grows about a fraction of an inch every single year.
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But it’s not just about the plates moving. We’ve also gotten a lot better at measuring things.
The Evolution of the Number
In 1856, a guy named Andrew Waugh and his team at the Great Trigonometrical Survey calculated the height from over a hundred miles away. They didn't have GPS. They used giant brass instruments called theodolites and some very complex math. They came up with exactly 29,000 feet.
Story goes, they were so worried people would think they just rounded the number that they added two feet to make it look "more real." That’s how we got 29,002 feet, which stayed the "truth" for a long time.
Then came 1954. An Indian survey updated it to 29,028 feet. That was the "official" height for most of our lives.
The Snow vs. Rock Feud
For a long time, China and Nepal couldn't agree. China argued that the "real" height should be the rock height—the literal stone peak. They measured that at roughly 29,017 feet. Nepal, however, insisted on the "snow height," which includes the deep cap of ice and snow that sits on the summit.
Why does this matter? Well, tourism and national pride. If you're the home of the world's tallest mountain, you want it to be as tall as possible. In 2020, they finally shook hands and agreed on the 29,031.7 feet figure, which includes that snow cap.
The Surprising Growth Spurt No One Expected
Recently, scientists found something even weirder. Everest isn't just being pushed up by tectonic plates; it's also being "sucked" up from above.
About 89,000 years ago—which is basically yesterday in geological time—a river called the Arun merged with the Kosi river system. This created massive erosion in the valleys below Everest. As the river carved out billions of tons of rock and dirt, the Earth’s crust became lighter.
Think of it like a boat. If you throw a bunch of heavy cargo off a boat, it floats higher in the water.
This process, called isostatic rebound, has actually pushed Everest up by an extra 50 to 160 feet over the last few millennia. It’s actually growing faster than the mountains right next to it.
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What This Means for Climbers
If you’re planning on standing at 29,031.7 feet, the extra couple of feet probably won't be what stops you. It’s the "Death Zone."
Once you pass roughly 26,000 feet, the human body starts dying. There isn't enough oxygen to sustain life. Your brain swells, your lungs can fill with fluid, and your decision-making skills go out the window. Most people need supplemental oxygen just to keep their hearts beating at that altitude.
The air pressure at the summit is about a third of what it is at sea level. That means even if you’re breathing, you’re only getting 33% of the oxygen you'd get at the beach.
The "Other" Tallest Mountains
Wait, is Everest even the tallest? Kinda. It depends on how you define "height."
- From Sea Level: Everest wins, hands down, at 29,031.7 ft.
- From Base to Peak: Mauna Kea in Hawaii is technically taller. It starts on the ocean floor and rises over 33,500 feet. But since most of it is underwater, it doesn't get the crown.
- Closest to Space: Because the Earth bulges at the equator, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is actually the point on Earth closest to the stars.
But let's be real. When people ask "how many ft is Mt Everest," they want to know how high that summit is above the crashing waves of the ocean.
Actionable Steps for the Everest Obsessed
If you’re fascinated by these numbers, don't just stop at reading about them. You can actually experience the scale of 29,031.7 feet without being a pro climber.
- Trek to Base Camp: You don't need to summit to see the "Top of the World." The trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) takes you to about 17,598 feet. It’s hard, you’ll be breathless, but it’s doable for anyone in good shape.
- Monitor the "Growth": Follow the reports from the National Geographic Society or the Survey Department of Nepal. As tectonic activity continues, especially after major earthquakes like the 2015 Gorkha quake, these numbers are reviewed.
- Check Your Maps: If you have old maps or globes at home, look at the elevation listed for Everest. Anything showing 29,028 or 29,035 (a 1999 US GPS measurement) is technically outdated.
Everest is more than just a number on a page. It's a living, growing piece of geology. Whether it's 29,031 feet or 29,032 feet next year, it remains the ultimate benchmark for human endurance and planetary power.
To stay truly updated, keep an eye on joint announcements from the Himalayan database, as they are the first to flag when the "roof of the world" decides to move again.