Burj Khalifa vs Taipei 101: Height, Records and Decks
Updated October 27, 2026
Verdict
The Burj Khalifa is about 320 m taller than Taipei 101: 828 m against 508.2 m, or 1.6 times as tall. Taipei 101 held the world's tallest title from 2004 until the Burj Khalifa took it. Taipei 101's top deck, Skyline 460 on the 101st floor at 449.2 m, is about 3 m lower than the Burj's standard level 124 deck at 452 m.
Taipei 101 and the Burj Khalifa are linked by one record. Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world from its opening at the end of 2004 until the Burj Khalifa overtook it, topping out in 2009 and opening on 4 January 2010. Since then the gap has been large: the Burj Khalifa is 828 m to its architectural top and Taipei 101 is 508.2 m, according to Wikipedia. That is 320 m of difference, or 1.6 Taipei 101s. Below are the heights, the record years and the observation decks in both towers, with the floor heights you stand at in each. One detail stands out: Taipei 101's highest outdoor deck and the Burj Khalifa's standard deck are almost the same height. For more on the Burj, see Burj Khalifa facts.
| Criterion | Burj Khalifa (Dubai) | Taipei 101 (Taipei) |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural height | 828 m (2,717 ft) | 508.2 m (1,667 ft) |
| Floors | 163 | 101 |
| Opened | 4 January 2010 | 31 December 2004 |
| Tallest in the world | Since 2010 | 2004 until the Burj Khalifa overtook it |
| Indoor deck | Level 125, above level 124 at 452 m | 89th floor at 383.4 m |
| Highest outdoor deck | Level 148 at 555 m | 101st floor (Skyline 460) at 449.2 m |
| Elevators | 57; double-deck cars up to 10 m/s | Up to 60.6 km/h (about 16.8 m/s) at opening |
Height
Wikipedia gives Taipei 101 an architectural height of 508.2 m (1,667 ft), measured to the top of its spire, over 101 floors. The Burj Khalifa reaches 828 m to its architectural top and 829.8 m to the tip, over 163 floors. The difference is about 320 m. Put another way, 828 ÷ 508.2 = 1.63: the Burj Khalifa is a little over one and a half Taipei 101s tall. The two look nothing alike. Taipei 101 is built as eight stacked segments that echo a pagoda, while the Burj Khalifa rises from a Y-shaped plan, inspired by the Hymenocallis desert flower according to its designers at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. See who designed the Burj Khalifa.
Record years
Taipei 101 opened on 31 December 2004 and took the title of the world's tallest building. Wikipedia's dates for when it lost the title differ by a few months, because the Burj Khalifa passed it while still under construction: the Burj topped out on 17 January 2009 and opened on 4 January 2010. Either way, Taipei 101 held the record for about five years. Its elevators also set a world speed record when it opened, at 60.6 km/h (Wikipedia). The Burj Khalifa's 57 elevators include double-deck cars that travel at up to 10 m/s, and the longest run is 504 m. Read more in Burj Khalifa elevators.
Observation decks
Taipei 101 has an indoor observatory on the 89th floor at 383.4 m, an outdoor deck on the 91st floor at 391.8 m, and Skyline 460 on the 101st floor at 449.2 m (Wikipedia). Inside the tower you can also see its tuned mass damper, a 660-tonne steel ball that steadies the building in wind and earthquakes. The Burj Khalifa's standard deck on level 124 sits at 452 m, about 3 m above Taipei 101's highest deck. Level 148 is at 555 m and The Lounge on levels 152 to 154 is at 585 m. So even the entry-level Burj ticket takes you higher than any visitor floor in Taipei 101.
Visiting the Burj Khalifa after Taipei 101
If Skyline 460 was your benchmark, level 124 and 125 will feel familiar in height and the difference is the view: desert, sea and the Downtown Dubai skyline instead of mountains around a city. On 27 October 2026 a levels 124 and 125 ticket started at $51 (AED 189, at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED). To go clearly higher than you did in Taipei, level 148 starts at $109 and adds skip-the-line access and a lounge. Both have free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and sunset slots cost more. For a side-by-side of the two Burj tickets, see Burj Khalifa 124 vs 148.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Burj Khalifa taller than Taipei 101?
Yes, by about 320 m. The Burj Khalifa is 828 m and Taipei 101 is 508.2 m to their architectural tops (Wikipedia).
How many Taipei 101s tall is the Burj Khalifa?
About 1.6 (828 ÷ 508.2).
When did the Burj Khalifa overtake Taipei 101?
The Burj Khalifa passed Taipei 101's height during construction and topped out on 17 January 2009. It opened on 4 January 2010.
Which has the higher observation deck?
The Burj Khalifa. Taipei 101's highest deck is at 449.2 m; the Burj's standard level 124 is at 452 m and level 148 at 555 m.
Which has faster elevators?
Taipei 101's elevators reached 60.6 km/h (about 16.8 m/s) when it opened, per Wikipedia. The Burj Khalifa's double-deck elevators travel at up to 10 m/s.
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