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Glossary · Honest Height Methodology
Six terms. The metrics this site uses to rank skyscrapers by what they are, not what they claim to be.
Definition
The elevation of the highest occupied floor. The honest answer to how tall a building is.
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Definition
The metres of unoccupied structure above the highest occupied floor. The padding.
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Definition
Vanity Height as a percentage of architectural top. The honesty score.
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Definition
The CTBUH-standard ranking metric. Includes spires.
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Definition
The CTBUH measurement that anchors Honest Height.
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Definition
300 metres for supertall. 600 metres for megatall. Both by architectural top.
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Architectural Top and Highest Occupied Floor are the two CTBUH-standard measurements we anchor on. Most rankings use the first; we use the second.
Honest Height is our colloquial term for highest occupied floor - the metric that drives the Honest 100.
Vanity Height is the gap between Architectural Top and Highest Occupied Floor (in metres). Vanity Ratio is that same gap as a percentage. The Vanity Ratio drives the Fake Tall Kings ranking and the Padded Pinnacle Award.
Supertall and Megatall are the standard 300m and 600m thresholds - both measured by architectural top, which is why some buildings cross them via decoration.