What the tidal range measures
The tidal range is the height difference between high and low tide. The BSH distinguishes more precisely between the tidal rise, from low tide to the following high tide, and the tidal fall afterwards. The tidal range is the average of the two.
On the German North Sea coast the tidal range lies between about one metre and over four metres, according to the BSH. Water levels are measured at more than 130 gauges along the coast and the tidal rivers.
Mean tidal range at well-known gauges
The mean high and low water heights the BSH publishes for each gauge give a mean tidal range. For some places (BSH gauge data, October 2026, rounded): List on Sylt about 1.8 m, Hörnum on Sylt 2.0 m, Heligoland 2.3 m, Borkum 2.4 m, Norderney 2.4 m, Wittdün on Amrum 2.6 m, Cuxhaven 2.9 m, Büsum 3.1 m, Husum 3.5 m, Bremerhaven 3.8 m, Wilhelmshaven 3.8 m, Hamburg St. Pauli 3.8 m and Bremen 4.3 m.
Individual days differ: at spring tide the range is larger, at neap tide smaller, and wind can shift both high and low tide.
Why the range differs so much
According to the BSH, how the tides behave at a place depends, besides astronomy, largely on the shape and depth of the sea. The gauge data shows this clearly: from the Elbe estuary upstream the mean range increases, from 2.9 m in Cuxhaven to 3.8 m in Hamburg; on the Weser from 3.8 m in Bremerhaven to 4.3 m in Bremen. Off the coast of Sylt it stays below two metres.
For beach visits this means: with a large tidal range the beach changes more over one tide, and at low tide a wide strip of mudflat is often exposed. On the tide map the colour of each gauge shows where the current water level lies between mean low and mean high water.
The tidal range tells you how strongly the water moves at your place. Where the range is large, it is especially worth knowing the times of high and low tide.
See the tide for your placeFrequently asked questions
Where is the tidal range largest on the German North Sea coast?
In the estuaries and further upstream, for example on the Weser at Bremen with a good four metres on average. On the open coast of Sylt it is smallest, at under two metres.
Is the tidal range the same every day?
No. It varies with the spring and neap periods in a rhythm of about two weeks and is also affected by wind and air pressure.