Before You Book the Empire State Building: Every Cost, and What's Worth It
By the BeatTheCrowd team · Prices last checked 2 November · 4 min read
The Empire State Building has more ticket types than any other observation deck in New York: the 86th-floor open-air deck, the 102nd floor, Express passes, an AM/PM ticket, a Flex ticket, sunrise and private tours. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need the most expensive one to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right one, whether that's a quiet weekday morning or a busy evening at sunset.
At a glance
86th floor (adult)
From $46, by date and time
86th + 102nd floors
From $81
Express pass
From $87 (86th), from $122 (with 102nd)
AM/PM (day and night visit)
From $67
Sunrise
From $135
Children
Under 6 free; child rate 6-12; seniors 62+ pay less
Open
Daily, until late evening
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The real total: cheapest ticket vs what most visitors pay
The cheapest way up is the 86th floor at from $46, which includes the famous open-air deck. Prices change by date and time, and sunset slots cost more. Adding the 102nd floor takes you to from $81, and Express passes, which skip the security and lift queues, start at $87. Children under 6 are free.
Visitor
What they buy
One adult
The planner
86th floor, off-peak
From $46
Day and night
AM/PM ticket
From $67
Higher view
86th + 102nd floors
From $81
No queues
Express, 86th floor
From $87
Bucket list
Sunrise
From $135
🎟️ Book skip-the-line tickets
Check the crowds, find the best time slot, and book through our authorised partner.
Prices last checked: 2 November. Prices vary with the season, peak and off-peak dates and promotions, and we recheck them every month. Visitor-reported costs are marked as estimates, and US$ figures are rough conversions.
Ticket options: what each one gets you
Ticket
From
What you get
Verdict
86th floor
$46
The museum and the open-air 86th-floor deck
Best value: the classic view
Flex ticket
$66
86th floor, visit any time on your date
Only if your plans are uncertain
AM/PM
$67
86th floor twice in one day, day and night
Worth it for photographers
86th + 102nd floors
$81
Adds the glass-walled 102nd floor
Optional: higher, but behind glass
Express, 86th floor
$87
The crowd tax: why sunset costs more
We don't yet have hourly crowd data for the Empire State Building. What's well known is that sunset and the early evening are the most popular times, and they're priced higher. Weekends, holidays and summer evenings typically bring the longest queues, which is when Express earns its price.
When
Typical crowds
What to buy
Weekday morning
Quieter
86th floor, standard
Sunset
Busiest, and dearer
Book a timed ticket well ahead
Late evening
Usually easier
86th floor: night views, lower price
Holiday or summer weekend evening
Busy
Express, if your time is short
Crowds by day and time
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for Empire State Building, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Which ticket is worth it?
Most visitors: the 86th floor, from $46, in the morning or late evening.
Photographers: AM/PM, for day and night views.
Highest view: add the 102nd floor.
Busy evening, short on time: Express.
Several attractions: compare CityPASS or New York Pass.
Short on time? What you'd regret missing
The open-air 86th-floor deck.
The Art Deco lobby.
The views of Midtown and the Chrysler Building.
Night views, if you can stay late.
Getting there
The entrance is at 20 West 34th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. 34 St-Herald Square station is a short walk. A regular subway fare covers it.
Weather and visibility
Rain, fog and low cloud can hide the view. Check the forecast on the day, and if you have a Flex ticket, wait for a clear spell. Strong wind can affect the open-air 86th floor.
What can go wrong
You turn up at sunset without a ticket: book ahead.
You buy Express on a quiet morning: you won't need it.
You pay for the 102nd floor and prefer the 86th: it's behind glass.
Fog: check the forecast before you go.
What one person really spends
Level
What's included
One adult
Budget
86th floor, off-peak
From $46
Typical
86th + 102nd floors
From $81
Splurge
Express, 86th + 102nd
From $122
Occasion
Sunrise
From $135
Before tax and booking fees. Children under 6 are free.
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other. Crowd figures come from our own crowd data. Prices last checked 2 November. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
Skip the security and lift queues
Only on busy evenings and holidays
Express, 86th + 102nd
$122
Both floors, skip the queues
Splurge
Sunrise
$135
Before opening, with Starbucks Reserve
Bucket list
These are the official starting prices. Children 6-12 and seniors 62+ pay less, and under-6s are free. NYC residents get 25% off. CityPASS and New York Pass include the Empire State Building, which can work out cheaper if you'll use them for several attractions.
The 86th floor: the one most people need
The 86th floor has the open-air deck that wraps around the building, the one in the films. It's included in every ticket. Our verdict: for most visitors, this is the Empire State Building. Go at a quiet time and it's the best value in the building.
Is the 102nd floor worth it?
The 102nd floor is 16 floors higher, with floor-to-ceiling windows, but it's indoors and behind glass. The upgrade costs about $35 more than the 86th floor. Our verdict: worth it if you want the highest view, but many visitors find the open-air 86th floor more memorable.
Is Express worth it?
Express lets you skip the queues for security and the lifts. It costs about $41 more than a standard 86th-floor ticket. Our verdict: only on a busy evening, a holiday or a summer weekend at sunset. On a weekday morning, the regular queue is usually short.
What visitors say
Visitors love the open-air 86th floor, the Art Deco lobby and the exhibits on the way up, and many say night views are the most memorable. The most common complaints are queues at sunset and the cost of the extras, so the advice is to book a timed ticket and skip Express on quiet days.
