How tall is Big Ben?
The Elizabeth Tower is 96 m tall and has 11 floors. Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell inside it, which is 2.2 m high, so a height of 96 m belongs to the tower.
This is an independent guide, not run by the UK Parliament. The numbers come from the published Parliament fact sheets. Several of them sound alike, so each one is explained below.
Key numbers at a glance
Tower, steps, clock and bell.
| Subject | Figure |
|---|---|
| Height of the tower | 96 m, 11 floors |
| Steps to the clock dials | 281 |
| Steps to the bell chamber | 334 |
| Further steps to the Ayrton Light | 65 |
| Highest point of the standard tour | 62 m |
| Stone and brick | 850 m³ of stone, 2,600 m³ of brick |
| Clock dials | 4 dials, 324 pieces of opal glass each |
| Great Bell | 13.7 t, 2.2 m high, 2.7 m across, note E |
| Bells in the tower | 5 (Great Bell and 4 quarter bells) |
Westminster tours and cruises near Big Ben
Walking tours, river cruises and sightseeing trips around Westminster, with live prices and availability.
Steps are not the same as height
The number 334 is the count of steps to the bell chamber. It does not mean the top of the tower. There are 281 steps to the clock dials and a further 65 steps to the Ayrton Light. The standard tour climbs to a height of 62 m, not to the full 96 m.
What is the Ayrton Light?
The Ayrton Light is a signal light high in the tower, and it shows when the Houses of Parliament are sitting. It is not a freely accessible viewing platform.
What is the tower made of?
Parliament gives 850 cubic meters of stone and 2,600 cubic meters of brick. The stone includes Anston and Clipsham stone, and Caen limestone is also named.
Clock and bell numbers
The four dials each hold 324 pieces of opal glass, and the numerals are 60 cm high. The minute hand is 4.2 m long, and the hour hand is 2.7 m long. The pendulum is 4.4 m long and weighs 310 kg. The Great Bell weighs 13.7 tonnes. See the clock page and the chimes page for the detail.
Where it is
The tower is part of the Palace of Westminster in central London. The visitor entrance of Parliament is at Cromwell Green, SW1A 0AA. The nearest Underground station is Westminster, on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines, at Bridge Street, SW1A 2JR. Victoria, Charing Cross and Waterloo are each about 20 minutes away on foot, according to Parliament.
Numbers for your visit
A tower tour lasts up to 90 minutes. Adults pay £55 and ages 11 to 17 pay £35 for tours from 1 August 2026, and one buyer can book up to 8 tickets, subject to availability. Tickets are released three months ahead on the second Wednesday of the month at 10:00.
Weights and measures
The clock movement sits in a cast-iron frame of 5 tonnes. The minute hand weighs 100 kg and the hour hand 300 kg, both including counterweights. The pendulum weighs 310 kg, of which 203 kg is the bob. The Great Bell weighs 13.7 tonnes, and the hammer that strikes it weighs 200 kg. Four quarter bells of 1.1, 1.3, 1.7 and 4 tonnes complete the set of five bells.
Which number answers which question?
For "how tall is Big Ben", use 96 m for the tower or 2.2 m for the bell. For "how many steps", use 334 to the bell chamber. For "how high can I go", use 62 m on the standard tour. For "how old is it", the clock started on 31 May 1859 and the tower was renamed in 2012. See the history page for the dates.
Common mix-ups
Where visitors often mix up the names and numbers.
Big Ben or the tower?
Big Ben is the Great Bell. The tower is called the Elizabeth Tower since 2012. Most people say Big Ben for all of it.
World Heritage and tickets
The UNESCO listing covers the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church. That does not mean a shared entry ticket.
Westminster Abbey →Can you climb to the top?
The tour climbs 334 steps to the bell chamber and takes up to 90 minutes. Tickets for tours from 1 August 2026 cost £55 for adults and £35 for ages 11 to 17.
Tower tour guide →Go deeper
History, clock and the rules for visiting.
Big Ben facts: frequently asked questions
How tall is Big Ben?
The Elizabeth Tower is 96 m tall with 11 floors. The Great Bell, which is Big Ben itself, is 2.2 m high.
How many steps are there in Big Ben?
There are 334 steps to the bell chamber and 281 to the clock dials. A further 65 steps lead to the Ayrton Light.
How high does the tour go?
The standard tour goes up to 62 m, not to the full height of 96 m.
How heavy is the bell?
The Great Bell weighs 13.7 tonnes. The four quarter bells weigh 1.1, 1.3, 1.7 and 4 tonnes.
How large is the clock face?
Parliament gives about 7 m across on one page and 6.9 m on another. The numerals are 60 cm high.
What is the Ayrton Light?
It is a signal light that is on when the Houses of Parliament sit. It is not a freely accessible viewing platform.