• Hang purple martin bird houses high in an open area.purple martin image by Dwight Davis from Fotolia.com
  
  

About 15 Feet

• Hang purple martin bird houses on poles 15 to 20 feet above the ground, according to Alabama Cooperative Extension. The higher a house is placed, the more likely it is to be blown down or damaged by wind and storms.
  
  

Up to 20 Feet

• A height of 10 to 20 feet above the ground is recommended by the University of Nebraska. Higher housing may be necessary if objects such as trees would otherwise interfere with the flyway.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Place the purple martin bird house 10 to 20 feet in the air. Error on the high end of this range to ensure adequate access from the air.