Missouri covers a total area of 69,697 sq mi (180,516 sq km), of which land comprises 68,945 sq mi (178,568 sq km) and inland water 752 sq mi (1,948 sq km). Missouri is located in the western north-central US and is surrounded by by Iowa on the North, by Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee on the East, by Arkansas on the South and by Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska on the West. Missouri is ranked 19th in size among the 50 states.

The state's geographic center is in Miller County, 20 mi (32 km) SW of Jefferson City.