It measures 555 feet 5 1/8 inches (169.29 meters) high. There is an elevator inside the monument that travels up to an observation room inside the pyramid at the top; from there, visitors can look out at views that include the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, and the U.S. Capitol Building.

The Washington Monument stands at an official height of 555 feet 5⅛ inches (169.294 meters). This measurement reflects the pinnacle of the aluminum cap atop the marble obelisk. Interestingly, the height was intentionally designed to be ten times the width of the monument's base, which measures 55 feet 1½ inches square. While this is the historical standard, a 2014 survey by the U.S. National Geodetic Survey using modern GPS technology provided a slightly more refined measurement of 554 feet 7¹¹/₃₂ inches (169.046 meters) from the floor of the main entrance to the tip. Despite these technical nuances, the "555" figure remains the widely accepted cultural and architectural standard. As of 2026, it remains the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the tallest obelisk. Visitors who take the 70-second elevator ride to the 500-foot observation level can see for 30 miles across the capital, a view made possible by the monument's staggering vertical scale.