The heights of the tallest trees in the world have been the subject of considerable dispute and much exaggeration.

Modern verified measurements with laser rangefinders or with tape drop measurements made by tree climbers (such as those carried out by canopy researchers),

have shown that some older tree height measurement methods are often unreliable, sometimes producing exaggerations of 5% to 15% or more above the real height.

Historical claims of trees growing to 130 m (430 ft), and even 150 m (490 ft), are now largely disregarded as unreliable, and attributed to human error.

The following are the tallest reliably measured specimens from the top species. This table shows only currently standing specimens..

The largest trees are defined as having the highest wood volume in a single-stem.

These trees are both tall and large in diameter and, in particular, hold a large diameter high up the trunk.

Measurement is very complex, particularly if branch volume is to be included as well as the trunk volume,

so measurements have only been made for a small number of trees, and generally only for the trunk.

Few attempts have ever been made to include root or leaf volume...