Usual height for the motte of a large motte and bailey: 30 feet (9 m). Height of the walls of Framlingham Castle in England: 40 feet (12 m). Height of the keep at Dover Castle in England: 80 feet (24 m). Height of the tallest tower at Warwick Castle in England: 128 feet (39 m).

Medieval castle towers varied wildly in height based on their purpose and the wealth of the lord, but the "standard" height for a defensive tower was between 12 and 24 meters (40 to 80 feet). The massive "Keep" or donjon—the heart of the castle's defense—was usually the tallest point; for example, the White Tower at the Tower of London stands about 27 meters (90 feet) high. Exceptional towers like the one at Warwick Castle reach a soaring 39 meters (128 feet). In 2026, historians note that the primary limiting factor for tower height was not engineering skill, but the massive cost of resources and the diminishing returns of defense—after 15 meters, an attacker's ladder was already ineffective. High-value "prestige" towers, like those in medieval San Gimignano, could reach over 50 meters, but these were city-towers rather than true castle fortifications. Generally, a tower was built high enough to provide a clear line of sight for archers and to withstand the impact of siege engines, creating the iconic "jagged" skyline we associate with medieval fortresses today.