Is the Burj Khalifa Taller Than the CN Tower?

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world's tallest building. The CN Tower in Toronto was the world's tallest free-standing structure from 1975 until 2007, when the Burj Khalifa surpassed it during construction. So how do they compare today?

The Short Answer

Yes, the Burj Khalifa is dramatically taller than the CN Tower. The Burj Khalifa stands 828 m (2,717 ft). The CN Tower stands 553 m (1,815 ft). The Burj Khalifa is approximately 50% taller — 275 m taller in absolute terms.

Side-by-Side Numbers

• Burj Khalifa height: 828 m (2,717 ft) including spire
• CN Tower height: 553 m (1,815 ft)
• Difference: Burj Khalifa is 275 m taller
• Ratio: Burj Khalifa is ~1.50× the height of the CN Tower
• Burj Khalifa floors: 163
• CN Tower observation level: 447 m (SkyPod)

The Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa was completed in 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 828 m, it is the tallest building in the world by every relevant measurement — height to architectural top, height to tip, and height to highest occupied floor. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with chief architect Adrian Smith. The building has 163 occupied floors plus mechanical floors above. Total construction cost was about $1.5 billion.

The Burj Khalifa contains a mix of apartments, the Armani Hotel, corporate offices, and observation decks. The "At the Top" observation deck at the 124th floor (452 m) and "SKY" deck on the 148th floor (555 m) are among the most popular observation decks in the world. Construction took about 6 years from groundbreaking to opening.

The CN Tower

The CN Tower in Toronto was completed in 1976 by Canadian National Railway (hence "CN" — though CN no longer owns the tower). At 553 m, it became the world's tallest free-standing structure when completed, surpassing the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The CN Tower held the title for 31 years until being surpassed during the Burj Khalifa's construction in 2007.

The tower is primarily a communications and observation structure. It hosts antennas for FM radio, TV broadcasting, and other communications. Major attractions include the main observation deck at 346 m, the EdgeWalk (a hands-free walk around the outside at 356 m, the world's highest external walk on a building), the glass floor at 342 m, and the SkyPod at 447 m. The 360 Restaurant at 351 m revolves once every 72 minutes.

Building vs Tower

An important distinction: the Burj Khalifa is a building (it has many occupied floors for residential and office use); the CN Tower is technically a tower (its primary function is observation and communications, with limited occupied space). The CN Tower has a single core with the observation pod and SkyPod at the top, plus broadcasting equipment. The Burj Khalifa has hundreds of apartments, hotel rooms, and offices throughout its height. By the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's classification, the CN Tower is a "tower" while the Burj Khalifa is a "building" — so they're technically in different categories.

Engineering

Both used innovative engineering for their eras. The CN Tower was built using a slip-form concrete construction technique that was advanced for the 1970s. The tower's tapered cross-section provides resistance to high winds; the cross-section at the top is much smaller than at the base. The Burj Khalifa uses a "buttressed core" design — a hexagonal central core with three buttressing wings, allowing the building to taper as it rises while maintaining structural integrity. This Y-shaped plan was inspired by the Hymenocallis flower native to the region. Concrete pumping during Burj Khalifa construction set a world record at over 600 m vertical pumping.

Climate Considerations

Both structures must withstand demanding conditions. The CN Tower stands on the shore of Lake Ontario, exposed to extreme Canadian weather — winter winds can exceed 100 km/h, ice storms, and lightning strikes (the tower is hit by lightning about 75 times per year). The structure is engineered to sway up to about 1.7 m at the top in extreme winds. The Burj Khalifa is engineered for Dubai's extreme heat. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C, and the building's exterior cladding and tinted glass reflect significant solar heat. Air conditioning systems consume vast amounts of energy and water. The building can sway up to 1.5 m at the top in strong winds.

Visitor Experience

Both have iconic observation experiences. The Burj Khalifa's SKY deck on the 148th floor (555 m) was the world's highest observation deck for years (recently surpassed by the Shanghai Tower). The CN Tower's SkyPod at 447 m is North America's highest observation level. The CN Tower's EdgeWalk — a guided hands-free walk on a 1.5 m wide ledge around the outside of the main pod at 356 m — is unique among major towers. Both towers attract millions of visitors annually.

Cultural Significance

Both are major cultural symbols of their cities. The CN Tower has been the symbol of Toronto for over 45 years. The tower is illuminated at night with LED lighting that changes color for special events, holidays, and causes. It appears in countless films, TV shows, and works of art representing Toronto and Canada. The Burj Khalifa is the centerpiece of Dubai's ambitious transformation into a global financial, tourism, and luxury hub. The tower features in films, marketing, and Dubai's international branding. The Burj Khalifa's nightly lighting and special-event displays (including elaborate New Year's Eve fireworks shows) are global media events.

Records Held

The Burj Khalifa holds numerous records: tallest building in the world, tallest free-standing structure, highest occupied floor (163), highest restaurant (At.mosphere at 442 m), highest mosque, highest swimming pool. The CN Tower held the title of world's tallest free-standing structure for 31 years (1976–2007). Even now, it remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. The tower's EdgeWalk holds the record for highest external walk on a building.

Modern Competition

Both structures exist in a context of increasing competition. The Burj Khalifa, while still the world's tallest, may eventually be surpassed by the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia (planned at over 1,000 m, though construction has been stalled). The Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur (679 m, completed 2023) is now the world's second-tallest building. The CN Tower is no longer the tallest tower in the world — the Tokyo Skytree (634 m, completed 2012) holds that title, with the Canton Tower (604 m), the Ostankino Tower (540 m), and others competing.

Construction Stories

Both structures have interesting construction histories. The CN Tower was built from 1973–1976 by a consortium of Canadian companies, with construction monitored by camera and broadcast on local Toronto TV — making it one of the first heavily-televised construction projects. The Burj Khalifa's construction (2004–2010) involved over 12,000 workers at peak, and the project was largely completed during the 2008 financial crisis that nearly bankrupted Dubai. The tower's name was changed from "Burj Dubai" to "Burj Khalifa" days before opening, honoring Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi after Abu Dhabi bailed out Dubai's finances.

Light Shows

Both have iconic light displays. The CN Tower's LED lighting system, installed in 2007, has over 1,330 LEDs across the tower. The lights change color for hundreds of special events, holidays, and causes — from rainbow for Pride Month to red and white for Canada Day. The Burj Khalifa has an even more elaborate exterior light system. The annual New Year's Eve light shows are televised globally and incorporate elaborate fireworks displays from multiple levels of the tower. The 2018 Burj Khalifa New Year's show used over 70,000 fireworks and 1.2 million LED lights.

Key Facts

• The Burj Khalifa is about 50% taller than the CN Tower.
• The CN Tower held the world's tallest free-standing title from 1976 to 2007.
• The Burj Khalifa is a building; the CN Tower is technically a tower.
• The CN Tower remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.
• Both structures attract millions of visitors annually.

Fun Facts

• The CN Tower is struck by lightning about 75 times per year.
• The Burj Khalifa's shadow can be seen across Dubai at sunrise and sunset.
• The CN Tower has its own zip code area (different from surrounding Toronto streets).
• The Burj Khalifa's spire alone is 244 m tall — taller than most skyscrapers.
• Both have hosted unusual stunts and events including extreme sports and films.

The Bottom Line

The Burj Khalifa is 50% taller than the CN Tower. The two represent very different eras of tall-structure construction — the CN Tower's 1970s slip-form concrete versus the Burj Khalifa's 2010 buttressed-core design. Both are iconic landmarks of their cities and continue to attract millions of visitors annually.