The topography of Commerce is exceptionally flat, reflecting its position on the valley floor of the Los Angeles Basin. Elevations gently slope, averaging around 141 feet (43 meters) above sea level, with very little variance throughout the city limits.
There are no mountains, hills, or deep canyons within Commerce. Its lowest points are found along the concrete-lined channels of the Los Angeles River and the Rio Hondo. Because the terrain is so level, it has historically been ideal for large-scale rail yards, sprawling warehouse footprints, and the major freeway corridors that crisscross the city.