What is the standard height of most U.S. telephone poles?

A 35-45 foot telephone pole is the standard (typical) length used in cities to carry one or two cross arms. But, depending on needs, some poles can reach heights of 120 feet or more to satisfy clearance requirements. These are not the standard telephone poles. Also, telephone poles are typically spaced about 100 feet to 150 feet apart, with 125 feet being the norm in urban areas.

Telephone poles are spaced about 300 feet apart in rural areas, but distances may vary widely based on the terrain. Joint use poles exist and are usually owned by one of the utility companies. The owner will lease space on the pole to others. In the United States, the National Electrical Safety Code, published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (not to be confused with the National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection Agency [NFPA]), sets the standards for construction and maintenance of utility poles and their equipment.

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26 Comments

Eric Leif Peters

If it's a range, it's not really a standard, is it?

mainjim

My father used to work for the telephone company in our area as a forman, so..

Corey Taylor

patrhea, You were a lineman for the county?

silhouetteman

I believe they are 30-60 feet apart on average.,

ninakamwene

No clue

lmjmom

Got it.

Thomas DeLeo

The power line company leases out space on the pole to the phone company .

Gold Toy Box

BS question: First that is power pole in the photo not a telephone pole, which is usually 35-40 ft in length (4.5 to 5.5 ft in the ground). Second telephones poles are much shorter due to different ground to wire height rules. Span length is determine by many factors (wire size, weather, topography, urban vs rural, facilities on the pole, etc)

Jas Newman

Jim Medici, Agree. Furthermore, the question was about "U.S. telephone poles," but the "answer" referred to telephone poles "in urban areas." What about all the poles in rural areas?

dick aspel

Jakob Gerber, Get A life lad lad.

dick aspel

Perhaps the most exciting question that is not about basketball or baseball.Those of we poor souls living outside of the USA are enriched by such profound knowledge. And such a vibrant question.

patrhea

Being retired telephone engineer, I would have been embarrassed to have got this one wrong! Got it! Good q&a. Yes, I placed 35-45 foot poles average height poles on most progects typically replacement in an existing pole line. Average life of salt treated poles is 20-25 years. The first choice placement of communication lines is and has been to place as buried/underground. May eliminate most above ground lines/poles some day for telephone and TVCable, but seriously doubt that electric power lines out in rural areas will ever be underground.

John Dommerman

old poles, new poles, poles in the country, poles in the city, codes, ordinances....so many variables, what is average? Poor question.

Jakob Gerber

I live inSan Francisco. Since the advent of technology to the masses,we have cut the cord on wires possibly five to ten years ago in this city. People that used to have landlines went wireless in this period. I gave my “ analog “ plug in phone the adios express about ten years ago. Cell phones have displaced landlines . I’m no genius when it comes to technology, but I am a visual aesthetic. In paintings, films ,and other visual images telephone poles/posts have been a staple for quite some time on the American landscape. The time is going to come when these wooden poles will be redundant. When I don’t know, but possibly in the next ten to twenty years they will be coming down. Obviously something else will fill this void. I would imagine it would have something to do with transmitting towers . It’s going to change the great American landscape . What will be interesting is the idea of two things. When the poles are uprooted ( deracinated) ,what will the federal,state ,and local governments replace the vacancy with ? Hopefully trees that are acclimated to certain ,and various climates. Secondly . What will some enterprising company come up with in respect to what to do with all these wooden poles ? We are talking a massive undertaking, and if someone is smart,and cares about our ecosystems,and environment, this could be a very profitable undertaking. Let’s just hope there are creative ,and caring people involved . It would be all too easy for the politicians to just create a controlled burn, which of course would be catastrophic. Merry Christmas / Happy belated Chanukah...