Placement
How High Should a Bird Feeder Be
Height is a defensive measurement more than a birding one. Most feeder birds are flexible about it. Squirrels, cats, deer and bears are not.
The short answer
- Five feet (1.5 m) to the base of the feeder is the working default: above a cat's reach, below the point where refilling becomes a chore.
- Squirrel defense is geometry, not height alone. Baffle top 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) up, feeder 10 feet (3 m) horizontally from any launch point.
- The 5-7-9 rule sums it up: 5 feet up the pole, 7 feet out from the nearest jumping-off point, 9 feet down from an overhead branch.
- In bear country, 10 feet (3 m) up and 4 feet (1.2 m) out from any support, or take the feeders down entirely for the season.
- Ground feeders like juncos and doves want a tray at 0 to 12 inches (0 to 30 cm), not a hanging feeder at any height.
Five feet (1.5 m) to the base of the feeder is the default, and for most yards it is also the answer. It sits above a cat's standing reach, keeps seed out of the mud splash from heavy rain, and is low enough that refilling is a two second job rather than a ladder job.
But height is really a defensive measurement. Almost every feeder bird in North America will accept a feeder anywhere from knee level to the second story. The animals that will not accept your terms are squirrels, cats, raccoons, deer and, in some regions, bears, and each of them sets a different number.
This page gives the working heights by species, then the height each threat forces on you, and how to resolve the conflicts between them.
The default: 5 to 6 feet#
Measure to the bottom of the feeder, not the top of the pole. Manufacturers quote pole heights and hooks add another foot, so a "7 foot pole" often puts the feeding ports at 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m), which is fine.
At that height you can lift the lid without reaching, see into a tube to judge the seed level, and unhook the feeder for cleaning without a step stool. Everything above about 6 feet 6 inches (2 m) makes the fortnightly clean described in how often to clean bird feeders something you start skipping, and a skipped clean is a bigger risk to birds than most predators.
Heights by species#
Birds sort themselves by where they naturally forage. Ground feeders stay low, canopy and trunk species will go high, and the generalists use whatever is there.
| Birds | Best feeder height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Juncos, doves, towhees, native sparrows | 0 to 12 in (0 to 30 cm) | Ground tray or low platform; they rarely climb to a hanging feeder |
| Cardinals, grosbeaks | 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) | Heavy birds that want a stable surface at mid height |
| House finches, goldfinches, siskins | 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m) | Untroubled by height; will use higher feeders happily |
| Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches | 5 to 15 ft (1.5 to 4.5 m) | The most flexible group of all |
| Downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers | 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m) | Suet on a trunk or pole at chest height and up |
| Orioles | 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m) | High and conspicuous helps them find a new feeder |
| Bluebirds | 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) | Open, low mealworm dish with clear sightlines |
| Hummingbirds | 3 to 6 ft (1 to 1.8 m) | Set for your convenience; they will find it |
The practical takeaway is to run two heights rather than one. A pole feeder at 5 feet plus a ground feeder or catch tray below it will bring in dark-eyed juncos and mourning doves that never touch the hanging feeder, and it catches the spill at the same time.
Height matters less to birds than you think
Almost no feeder bird refuses a feeder because of its height. If your feeder is quiet, the cause is far more likely to be distance from cover, stale seed, or a hawk patrolling. Start with where to hang a bird feeder before you start raising and lowering things.
Squirrels: the 5-7-9 geometry#
A gray squirrel can jump roughly 5 feet (1.5 m) vertically from a standing start, about 10 feet (3 m) horizontally, and considerably further downward from a branch. Those three numbers, not the height of the feeder, define the problem.
The shorthand taught at every bird store is the 5-7-9 rule: 5 feet up the pole, 7 feet out from the nearest launch point, 9 feet down from an overhead branch. It is a conservative simplification of the same geometry, and it is easy to remember while standing in the yard with a tape measure.
In practice, give yourself more margin on the horizontal than the rule suggests. Ten feet (3 m) of clear air on every side is the figure worth aiming at, because a squirrel launching downhill from a fence rail or a low roof carries momentum that a flat 7 feet does not account for.
None of it works without a baffle. A bare pole is a ladder. The baffle's top edge needs to sit 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) above ground so a squirrel cannot jump over it, and the feeder must hang above the baffle rather than beside it. The full set of countermeasures, including what to do when the squirrel is already winning, is in how to stop squirrels raiding feeders.
Never grease a pole
Petroleum jelly, cooking oil and similar coatings mat a bird's feathers and destroy their insulation, which can be fatal in cold weather. A smooth metal pole plus a correctly placed baffle does the job with no risk.
Cats: why 5 feet is the floor#
A domestic cat can leap onto a surface around 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) high, but a leap is not a hunt. Cats take feeder birds by ambush from ground cover, not by jumping at feeders.
That makes 5 feet (1.5 m) the sensible minimum height and the clear ground around the feeder more important than the height itself. Keep 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m) between the feeder and any dense low cover, and trim the bottom 18 inches (45 cm) of nearby shrubs so nothing can crouch unseen. Ground feeding, which is what cats exploit, is the risky part: see cats and bird feeders and cats and birds for the wider picture.
Raccoons, deer and bears#
Each of these forces a specific number, and two of them override everything else on this page.
Raccoons climb better than squirrels and are heavier, so they will simply ride a feeder to the ground. Height does not stop them: a wide baffle on a smooth pole does, and bringing feeders in overnight during raccoon season does it absolutely. See keeping raccoons off bird feeders.
Deer browse to about 6 feet (1.8 m) and reach higher on their hind legs. If deer are emptying feeders, go to 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) and accept that you will need a hook or a pulley to refill. Cleaning up spilled seed matters just as much, as covered in deer eating bird seed.
Bears are the case where normal rules stop applying. Standard guidance from state wildlife agencies is a feeder at least 10 feet (3 m) above the ground and 4 feet (1.2 m) from any trunk, post or rail, which in practice means a wire strung between two trees with a pulley. If a bear has already found your yard, take the feeders down for the season instead. A bear that associates houses with food usually ends up destroyed. Read bird feeders and bears and when to take your feeders down before setting anything up in bear range.
When the numbers conflict#
They will. A yard with a fence 6 feet from the only sunny spot cannot satisfy the horizontal rule, and a yard under mature oaks cannot satisfy the overhead rule.
Resolve it in this order. Bears first, if you have them, because that is a safety question. Then the horizontal clearance, because a squirrel that can jump in makes every other measurement irrelevant. Then baffle height. Then species preference, which is the most forgiving variable of the lot.
If clearance is impossible, change the mount rather than the height: a feeder hung on a wire between two poles, or a deck-mounted arm extended well past the rail, buys distance a taller pole cannot.
Setting heights that work#
- Measure to the bottom of the feeder, at 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) for general use.
- Set the baffle top at 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m), not lower, and check it after the ground freezes and heaves.
- Confirm 10 feet (3 m) of clear air in every direction, measured from the feeder, not the pole.
- Add a ground tray below for the low feeders, and clear spilled seed weekly.
- Re-measure in winter, when snowpack raises the effective ground level and a 5 foot baffle becomes a 3 foot baffle. This is how a squirrel-proof setup fails in January.
The complete build, combining these heights with pole choice and spacing, is in building a complete feeding station.
Frequently asked questions#
How high off the ground should a bird feeder be?
About 5 feet (1.5 m) to the bottom of the feeder for a general-purpose setup. That clears a cat's standing reach, sits above the splash zone from rain hitting the ground, and is still low enough to refill without a ladder. Add a baffle below the feeder if it is on a pole.
How high do you hang a bird feeder to keep squirrels out?
Height alone will not do it, because a squirrel can jump about 5 feet (1.5 m) straight up and 10 feet (3 m) across. You need a baffle whose top sits 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) above ground, with the feeder at least 10 feet horizontally from any branch, fence, roof or rail.
Do different birds prefer different feeder heights?
Yes, though most feeder birds are tolerant. Juncos, doves and towhees feed at or near ground level, cardinals and finches favor 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m), and woodpeckers, orioles and chickadees will readily use feeders at 8 to 15 feet (2.5 to 4.5 m). Offering two heights broadens the species list more than any change of seed.
How high should a bird feeder be to keep bears away?
At least 10 feet (3 m) above the ground and 4 feet (1.2 m) from any post, trunk or rail a bear can climb, usually on a wire strung between two supports. If a bear has already visited, the only reliable answer is to remove the feeder for the season.
Will deer reach a feeder at 6 feet?
Often, yes. A white-tailed deer browses comfortably to about 6 feet (1.8 m) and can stretch higher on its hind legs. If deer are emptying your feeder overnight, hang it at 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) and clean up spilled seed below it.