Empire State Building: observation deck tickets, prices and hours
The Empire State Building observation deck is open every day, but it is better to book an entry time slot in advance. A ticket to the 86th floor costs from $46 per adult (as of 09/2026, observation deck tickets and prices). Without a reservation, you risk losing an hour in line.
We have gathered the key facts about this building. How many floors and meters it has, how construction was completed in 410 days, and why the skyscraper survived a plane crash. We also break down tickets, opening hours, and the best floor for the view.
💡 In short:
- The building opened on May 1, 1931, and construction took 410 days.
- Entry to the 86th floor costs from $46, and to the 102nd from $81 (as of 09/2026).
- In September 2026, the deck is open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM (opening hours).
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Empire State Building: the story of a 410-day construction
The Empire State Building rose on Fifth Avenue in the middle of the Great Depression. The clients were businessmen John Raskob and Pierre du Pont, and the drawings were prepared by the firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. The project was designed by architect William F. Lamb (history of the building's construction). After it opened, the building became the tallest in the world.
Construction began on March 17, 1930. The frame went up very quickly: an average of 4.5 floors per week, and at one point 14 floors were added in just ten days (record construction pace). The building welcomed its first tenants on May 1, 1931.
© Gzzz · CC BY-SAPhoto: Gzzz, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe skyscraper's height to the roof is 381 m. With the spire and antenna, the figure rises to about 443 m (height to the spire). The tall spire was built specifically to surpass the neighboring Chrysler Building in height and win the skyscraper race.
The final construction cost was about 41 million dollars in 1931 prices (construction cost estimate). The owners expected an influx of tenants, but in the early years offices leased slowly.
In 1932, a searchlight beam from the tower announced Franklin Roosevelt's election victory (the tower's first light displays). Colored facade lighting appeared only in 1976. Today it changes for holidays, so in your evening photos the tower is a different color each time. On St. Patrick's Day the tower glows green. On Independence Day the facade lights up in the colors of the American flag, and on Columbus Day in green, white, and red tones.
Numbers and interesting facts
The Empire State Building remains a working business center, not a museum. About 1,000 companies rent space there, employing more than 20,000 people (building tenants). The empty offices once earned the building the joking nickname Empty State Building.
In the table below you can see the skyscraper's key numbers.
Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
Floors | 102 |
Height to roof | 381 m |
With spire | about 443 m |
Elevators | 73 |
Windows | about 6,500 |
Steps to the top | 1,860 |
As of 09/2026, technical specifications for height, floors, elevators, and windows.
The original design included a mooring platform for airships between the 86th and 102nd floors (airship mooring project). The idea was never implemented: strong air currents made docking dangerous. Airships never once moored to the tower.
Today, antennas and transmitters for TV and radio companies operate on the roof. The total floor area exceeds 200,000 square meters, and the address itself is still considered prestigious for an office (office space area).
The Empire State Building in film and newsreels
The skyscraper has appeared in more than 90 films. The most famous footage remains from the 1933 King Kong, where the giant ape climbs the spire (the building in film). You may have also seen the tower in Sleepless in Seattle and dozens of other movies.
The building also has a tragic chapter. On July 28, 1945, a B-25 bomber crashed into the north wall between the 78th and 79th floors. Fourteen people died (the 1945 B-25 crash).
That day, elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived. Her elevator car plunged roughly 75 floors, and she lived through the fall (the rescue of elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver). The incident was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 1979, 29-year-old Elvita Adams jumped from the observation deck. A gust of wind threw her onto a ledge on the 85th floor, and security had time to call for help (the 1979 incident). The woman escaped with a broken hip.
Observation deck: tickets, hours, and the view
There are two ways to get to the top. The main deck on the 86th floor is open-air and sits at about 320 m. The second level, the Top Deck on the 102nd floor, is enclosed and sits at about 373 m. Along the way, you pass museum exhibits about the construction on the 2nd and 80th floors (what's included in the ticket).
Ticket | What's included | Price (09/2026) |
|---|---|---|
Main Deck | 86th floor and museum | from $46 |
Top Deck | 86th and 102nd floors | from $81 |
Express Pass | 86th floor, skip the line | from $87 |
The price depends on the date and time slot, and a service fee may be added when buying online. Prices: 09/2026, current ESB prices.
© VynedJ · CC BYPhoto: VynedJ, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe elevator takes you up to the 86th floor in about a minute. The observation deck offers a 360-degree panorama and views of six states on a clear day (views from the 86th floor). You choose the best time yourself: during the day you can see the parks and the Brooklyn Bridge, and after sunset the city lights up.
Hours vary by season. In September 2026, the deck is open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with the last elevator up at 10:00 PM (as of 09/2026, seasonal entry hours). You need to book a time slot in advance; entry is by timed ticket only.
- The catch: tickets are non-refundable and valid only for the selected date and time (as of 09/2026, ticket refund policy).
Tours and tickets in Empire State Building
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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It's convenient to buy 86th-floor tickets with a time slot in advance: see tickets on Tiqets. During high season, evening slots sell out first.
It gets especially crowded up top in the evening, so pick an earlier slot.
Empire State Building on the map and how to get there
The visitor entrance is at 20 West 34th Street, while the building's office address remains 350 Fifth Avenue (entrance and subway addresses). To get there, you need the 34th St - Herald Sq subway station, served by the B, D, F, and M lines.
A few more interesting places in the US: Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns and Glacier Park.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does an observation deck ticket cost?
An adult ticket to the 86th floor starts at $46 (as of 09/2026, admission cost). Tickets are cheaper for children and seniors, check the exact discount when selecting a time slot. Going up to the 102nd floor starts at $81.
What are the observation deck's hours?
The building is open year-round, but the schedule changes by season. In September 2026, entry runs from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with the last elevator up at 10:00 PM (as of 09/2026, observation deck hours).
What can you see from the 86th floor?
The open-air deck on the 86th floor gives you a 360-degree panorama. On a clear day, you can see up to six states, plus Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty (as of 09/2026, panorama and floors). You can see farther during the day, while in the evening the city looks more striking thanks to the lights.
How long did construction take?
The entire construction of the Empire State Building took 410 days (construction timeline). Work began on March 17, 1930, and the building opened on May 1, 1931.
How do I get there and where is the entrance?
The nearest subway station is 34th St - Herald Sq, served by the B, D, F and M lines. The visitor entrance to the observation deck is at 20 West 34th Street (how to find the entrance).
In short: what to book
If you want the classic open-air view of Manhattan, go for the Main Deck on the 86th floor (as of 09/2026, compare tickets). If you want to go higher and look through glass year-round, choose the Top Deck on the 102nd floor.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.