The topography of Wheaton is characteristic of the Midwestern prairie: generally flat to gently rolling. The terrain was heavily shaped by the retreat of the Wisconsin glaciation, which left behind a series of gentle moraines and fertile plains.
The city sits at an average elevation of around 751 feet (229 meters) above sea level. While there are no prominent mountains or deep canyons, the landscape is punctuated by small, rolling hills, particularly in the southern and western portions of the city near the Danada Forest Preserve and Arrowhead Golf Club. Coastal features are absent, though several restored prairie wetlands and small floodplains provide natural stormwater management.