What is the greatest altitude (or 'ceiling') that helicopters can obtain

Answers both 'typical' and 'absolute' gratefully received.

Thank you.

While there are Military choppers and "Speciality" choppers that can rise above 10,000 feet, the common helicopter doesn't go beyond that height. Most never exceed 8,000 ft. Many local agencies that have a "Helo" rarely exceed 5,000 feet above sea level. The highest fly Helicopter on record is 40,820 feet

http://www.aviationtrivia.info/Aerospati…

they dont OBTAIN it, they REACH it.
besides, it depends on number of factors, including type, weather condition, ambient temperature, and load.

that being said.. there have been helicopters landing on Everest, and there are helicopters that cannot negotiate Hindukush passes in Astan.

bottomline: just as a matter of interest, be advised that the ceiling will ALWAYS be reached during forward flight... not in the hover. in other words.. the helicopter can fly forwards at altitudes it could not takeoff vertically, or land vertically. one more reason for wheeled landing gears on helicopters... rolling takeoff just makes sense in hot&high enviroments... provided you are provided with a suitable runway.

It is just like the maximum altitude for a fixed wing aircraft: it depends on the design, and on the load being carried.
There is not absolute maximum altitude; all there is is the current record of specially prepared helicopter. Right now, the record stands at 12442 meters (40814 ft), done in 1972.

There has been at least one landing on mount everest...