The first world record in the men's 400 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by FINA (now World Aquatics) in 1908. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since 3 March 1991.
The drop in world record times in 2008–2009 coincided with the introduction of polyurethane suits from Speedo (LZR, 50% polyurethane) in 2008 and by Arena (X-Glide), Adidas (Hydrofoil) and Italian swimming suit manufacturer Jaked (all 100% polyurethane) in 2009. FINA's ban on non-textile suit came into effect in January 2010. FINA also released a list of approved suits.
Men
Long course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:36.8 | Henry Taylor | Great Britain | 16 July 1908 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 2 | 5:35.8 | Sydney Battersby | Great Britain | 11 September 1911 | Local Meet (Kentish Town) | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 3 | 5:29.0 | Alajos Kenyery | Hungary | 21 April 1912 | - | Magdeburg, Germany | ||
| 4 | 5:28.4 | Alajos Kenyery | Hungary | 5 June 1912 | - | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 5 | 5:24.4 | George Hodgson | Canada | 14 July 1912 | Olympic Games | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| 6 | 5:21.6 | Jack Hatfield | Great Britain | 26 September 1912 | Local Meet (Shoreditch) | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 7 | 5:14.6 | Norman Ross | United States | 9 October 1919 | - | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 8 | 5:14.4 | Norman Ross | United States | 25 September 1921 | - | Brighton Beach, United States | ||
| 9 | 5:11.8 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 9 April 1922 | Local Meet | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| 10 | 5:06.6 | Johnny Weissmuller | United States | 22 June 1922 | - | Honolulu, United States | ||
| 11 | 4:57.0 | Johnny Weissmuller | United States | 6 March 1923 | - | New Haven, United States | ||
| 12 | 4:54.7 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 9 December 1924 | Local Meet | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| 13 | 4:50.3 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 11 September 1925 | Local Meet | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| 14 | 4:47.0 | Jean Taris | France | 16 April 1931 | Local Meet | Paris, France | ||
| 15 | 4:46.4 | Shozo Makino | Japan | 14 August 1933 | - | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 16 | 4:38.7 | Jack Medica | United States | 30 August 1934 | - | Honolulu, United States | ||
| 17 | 4:38.5 | Bill Smith | United States | 13 May 1941 | - | Honolulu, United States | ||
| 18 | 4:35.2 | Alex Jany | France | 12 September 1947 | European Championships | Monte Carlo, Monaco | ||
| 19 | 4:34.6 | Hironoshin Furuhashi | Japan | 24 July 1949 | Local Meet | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 20 | 4:33.3 | Hironoshin Furuhashi | Japan | 18 August 1949 | US National Championships | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 21 | 4:33.1 | John Marshall | Australia | 11 March 1950 | Intercollegiate Event | New Haven, United States | ||
| 22 | 4:29.5 | John Marshall | Australia | 1 April 1950 | US National Indoor Championships | New Haven, United States | ||
| - | 4:26.9 | [A] | John Marshall | Australia | 24 March 1951 | Sanctioned Time Trial | New Haven, United States | |
| - | 4:26.7 | [A] | Ford Konno | United States | 3 April 1954 | Intercollegiate Event | New Haven, United States | |
| - | 4:25.9 | [A] | Murray Rose | Australia | 12 January 1957 | NSW Championships | Sydney, Australia | |
| 23 | 4:27.0 | [A] | Murray Rose | Australia | 27 October 1956 | Australian Championships | Melbourne, Australia | |
| 24 | 4:25.9 | John Konrads | Australia | 15 January 1958 | NSW Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 25 | 4:21.8 | John Konrads | Australia | 12 January 1959 | Australian Championships | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 26 | 4:19.0 | John Konrads | Australia | 7 February 1959 | International Swim Meet | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 27 | 4:16.6 | Tsuyoshi Yamanaka | Japan | 26 July 1959 | Japan-USA Water Competition | Osaka, Japan | ||
| 28 | 4:15.9 | John Konrads | Australia | 23 February 1960 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 29 | 4:13.4 | Murray Rose | Australia | 17 August 1962 | International Invitational | Chicago, United States | ||
| 30 | 4:12.7 | Don Schollander | United States | 31 July 1964 | US National Championships | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 31 | 4:12.2 | Don Schollander | United States | 15 October 1964 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 32 | 4:11.8 | John Nelson | United States | 18 August 1966 | US National Championships | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 33 | 4:11.6 | Don Schollander | United States | 18 August 1966 | US National Championships | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 34 | 4:11.1 | Frank Wiegand | East Germany | 25 August 1966 | European Championships | Utrecht, Netherlands | ||
| 35 | 4:10.6 | Mark Spitz | United States | 25 June 1967 | Local Event | Haywood, United States | ||
| 35 | 4:10.6 | = | Alain Mosconi | France | 2 July 1967 | Local Event | Monte Carlo, Monaco | |
| 37 | 4:09.2 | Alain Mosconi | France | 4 July 1967 | Local Event | Monte Carlo, Monaco | ||
| 38 | 4:08.8 | Mark Spitz | United States | 7 July 1967 | Santa Clara International | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 39 | 4:08.2 | Greg Charlton | United States | 28 August 1967 | Summer Universiade | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 40 | 4:07.7 | Mark Spitz | United States | 23 June 1968 | Annual Swimming Relays | Haywood, United States | ||
| 41 | 4:06.5 | Ralph Hutton | Canada | 1 August 1968 | US National Championships | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 42 | 4:04.0 | Hans-Joachim Fassnacht | West Germany | 14 August 1969 | US National Championships | Louisville, United States | ||
| 43 | 4:02.8 | John Kinsella | United States | 20 August 1970 | US National Championships | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 44 | 4:02.6 | Gunnar Larsson | United States | 7 September 1970 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 45 | 4:02.1 | Tom McBreen | United States | 25 August 1971 | US National Championships | Houston, United States | ||
| 46 | 4:01.7 | Brad Cooper | Australia | 12 February 1972 | Australian Championships | Brisbane, Australia | ||
| 47 | 4:00.11 | Kurt Krumpholz | United States | 4 August 1972 | US Olympic Trials | Chicago, United States | ||
| 48 | 3:58.18 | Rick DeMont | United States | 9 September 1973 | World Championships | Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | ||
| 49 | 3:56.96 | h | Tim Shaw | United States | 22 August 1974 | US National Championships | Concord, United States | |
| 50 | 3:54.69 | Tim Shaw | United States | 22 August 1974 | US National Championships | Concord, United States | ||
| 51 | 3:53.95 | Tim Shaw | United States | 19 June 1975 | US World Championship Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 52 | 3:53.31 | Tim Shaw | United States | 20 August 1975 | US National Championships | Kansas City, United States | ||
| 53 | 3:53.08 | Brian Goodell | United States | 18 June 1976 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 54 | 3:51.93 | Brian Goodell | United States | 22 July 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | ||
| 55 | 3:51.56 | Brian Goodell | United States | 27 August 1977 | USA vs East Germany Dual Meet | West Berlin, West Germany | ||
| 56 | 3:51.41 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 6 April 1979 | Soviet Union vs East Germany Junior Meet | Potsdam, East Germany | ||
| 57 | 3:51.40 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 19 August 1979 | Soviet Union vs Canada Dual Meet | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| 58 | 3:51.20 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 29 February 1980 | Soviet Union Winter Championships | Potsdam, East Germany | ||
| 59 | 3:50.49 | Peter Szmidt | Canada | 16 July 1980 | Canadian Championships | Etobicoke, Canada | ||
| 60 | 3:49.57 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 12 March 1982 | Soviet Union vs East Germany Dual Meet | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| 60 | 3:49.57 | = | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 14 July 1982 | Soviet Union Championships | Kiev, Soviet Union | |
| 62 | 3:48.32 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 19 February 1983 | Soviet Union Winter Championships | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| 63 | 3:47.80 | Michael Gross | West Germany | 27 June 1985 | West German Championships | Wuppertal, West Germany | ||
| 64 | 3:47.38 | Artur Wojdat | Poland | 25 March 1988 | US National Championships | Orlando, United States | ||
| 65 | 3:46.95 | Uwe Dassler | East Germany | 23 September 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | ||
| 66 | 3:46.47 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 3 April 1992 | Australian Championships | Canberra, Australia | ||
| 67 | 3:45.00 | Yevgeny Sadovyi | Unified Team at the Olympics | 29 July 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 68 | 3:43.80 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 5 September 1994 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | ||
| 69 | 3:41.83 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 22 August 1999 | Pan Pacific Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 70 | 3:41.33 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 13 May 2000 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 71 | 3:40.59 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 16 September 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 72 | 3:40.17 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 22 July 2001 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| 73 | 3:40.08 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 30 July 2002 | Commonwealth Games | Manchester, United Kingdom | ||
| 74 | 3:40.07 | Paul Biedermann | Germany | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | ||
| 75 | 3:39.96 | Lukas Märtens | Germany | 12 April 2025 | Stockholm Open | Stockholm, Sweden |
- ^ As of 1 May 1957, World Aquatics required records to be set in a 50-metre pool. This resulted in the annulment of Murray Rose's world record of 4:25.9. As John Marshall's 4:26.9 and Ford Konno's 4:26.7 were also set in 25-metre pools, the world record was reverted to Rose's 4:27.0 from 1956.
Short course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:41.74 | Giorgio Lamberti | Italy | 13 February 1988 | German Invitational | Bonn, West Germany | ||
| 2 | 3:40.81 | Anders Holmertz | Sweden | 4 February 1990 | World Cup | Paris, France | ||
| 3 | 3:40.46 | Danyon Loader | New Zealand | 11 February 1995 | World Cup | Sheffield, United Kingdom | ||
| 4 | 3:39.82 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 25 September 1998 | Australian Championships | Perth, Australia | ||
| 5 | 3:35.01 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 2 April 1999 | World Championships | Hong Kong | ||
| 6 | 3:34.58 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 18 July 2002 | Swimming Australia Grand Prix | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 7 | 3:32.77 | Paul Biedermann | Germany | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 8 | 3:32.25 | Yannick Agnel | France | 15 November 2012 | French Championships | Angers, France |
Women
Long course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6:30.2 | Ethelda Bleibtrey | United States | 16 August 1919 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 2 | 6:16.6 | Hilda James | Great Britain | 29 July 1921 | - | Leeds, United Kingdom | ||
| 3 | 5:53.2 | Gertrude Ederle | United States | 4 August 1922 | - | Indianapolis, United States | ||
| 4 | 5:51.4 | Martha Norelius | United States | 23 January 1927 | - | Coral Gables, United States | ||
| 5 | 5:49.6 | Martha Norelius | United States | 30 June 1928 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 6 | 5:42.8 | Martha Norelius | United States | 6 August 1928 | Olympic Games | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
| 7 | 5:39.2 | Martha Norelius | United States | 27 August 1928 | - | Vienna, Austria | ||
| 8 | 5:31.0 | Helene Madison | United States | 3 February 1931 | - | Seattle, United States | ||
| 9 | 5:28.5 | Helene Madison | United States | 13 August 1932 | - | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 10 | 5:16.0 | Willy den Ouden | Netherlands | 12 July 1934 | - | Rotterdam, Netherlands | ||
| 11 | 5:14.2 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 10 February 1937 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 12 | 5:14.0 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 3 October 1937 | - | Ghent, Belgium | ||
| 13 | 5:12.4 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 14 November 1937 | - | Magdeburg, Germany | ||
| 14 | 5:11.0 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 12 December 1937 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 15 | 5:08.2 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 16 January 1938 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 16 | 5:06.1 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 1 August 1938 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 17 | 5:05.4 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 8 September 1940 | - | Svendborg, Denmark | ||
| 18 | 5:00.1 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | 15 September 1940 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 19 | 4:50.8 | Lorraine Crapp | Australia | 25 August 1956 | - | Townsville, Australia | ||
| 20 | 4:47.2 | Lorraine Crapp | Australia | 20 October 1956 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 21 | 4:45.4 | Ilsa Konrads | Australia | 9 January 1960 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 22 | 4:44.5 | Chris von Saltza | United States | 5 August 1960 | US Olympic Trials | Detroit, United States | ||
| 23 | 4:42.0 | Marilyn Ramenofsky | United States | 11 July 1964 | - | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 24 | 4:41.7 | Marilyn Ramenofsky | United States | 1 August 1964 | US National Championships | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 25 | 4:39.5 | Marilyn Ramenofsky | United States | 31 August 1964 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 26 | 4:39.2 | Martha Randall | United States | 14 August 1965 | - | Maumee, United States | ||
| 27 | 4:38.0 | Martha Randall | United States | 26 August 1965 | - | Monaco | ||
| 28 | 4:36.8 | Pam Kruse | United States | 30 June 1967 | - | Fort Lauderdale, United States | ||
| 29 | 4:36.4 | Pam Kruse | United States | 7 July 1967 | Santa Clara International | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 30 | 4:32.6 | Debbie Meyer | United States | 27 July 1967 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | ||
| 31 | 4:29.0 | Debbie Meyer | United States | 18 August 1967 | US National Championships | Philadelphia, United States | ||
| 32 | 4:26.7 | Debbie Meyer | United States | 1 August 1967 | US National Championships | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 33 | 4:24.6 | Debbie Meyer | United States | 25 August 1968 | US Olympic Trials | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 34 | 4:24.3 | Debbie Meyer | United States | 20 August 1970 | US National Championships | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 35 | 4:22.6 | Karen Moras | Australia | 30 April 1971 | Coca-Cola International | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 36 | 4:21.2 | Shane Gould | Australia | 9 July 1971 | Santa Clara International | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 37 | 4:19.04 | Shane Gould | Australia | 30 August 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich, West Germany | ||
| 38 | 4:18.07 | Keena Rothhammer | United States | 22 August 1973 | US National Championships | Louisville, United States | ||
| 39 | 4:17.33 | Heather Greenwood | United States | 28 June 1974 | Santa Clara International | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 40 | 4:15.77 | Shirley Babashoff | United States | 22 August 1974 | US National Championships | Concord, United States | ||
| 41 | 4:14.76 | Shirley Babashoff | United States | 20 June 1975 | US World Championships Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 42 | 4:11.69 | Barbara Krause | East Germany | 3 June 1976 | East German Championships | East Berlin, East Germany | ||
| 43 | 4:09.89 | Petra Thümer | East Germany | 20 July 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | ||
| 44 | 4:08.91 | Petra Thümer | East Germany | 17 August 1977 | European Championships | Jönköping, Sweden | ||
| 45 | 4:07.66 | Kim Linehan | United States | 2 August 1978 | US National Championships | The Woodlands, United States | ||
| 46 | 4:06.28 | Tracey Wickham | Australia | 24 August 1978 | World Championships | West Berlin, West Germany | ||
| 47 | 4:05.45 | Janet Evans | United States | 20 December 1987 | US Open | Orlando, United States | ||
| 48 | 4:03.85 | Janet Evans | United States | 22 September 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | ||
| 49 | 4:03.03 | Laure Manaudou | France | 12 May 2006 | French Championships | Tours, France | ||
| 50 | 4:02.13 | Laure Manaudou | France | 6 August 2006 | European Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 51 | 4:01.53 | Federica Pellegrini | Italy | 24 March 2008 | European Championships | Eindhoven, Netherlands | ||
| 52 | 4:00.66 | Joanne Jackson | Great Britain | 16 March 2009 | British Championships | Sheffield, United Kingdom | ||
| 53 | 4:00.41 | Federica Pellegrini | Italy | 27 June 2009 | Mediterranean Games | Pescara, Italy | ||
| 54 | 3:59.15 | Federica Pellegrini | Italy | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | ||
| 55 | 3:58.86 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 9 August 2014 | US National Championships | Irvine, United States | ||
| 56 | 3:58.37 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 23 August 2014 | Pan Pacific Championships | Gold Coast, Australia | ||
| 57 | 3:56.46 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 7 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| 58 | 3:56.40 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 22 May 2022 | Australian Championships | Adelaide, Australia | ||
| 59 | 3:56.08 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 28 March 2023 | Canadian Trials | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 60 | 3:55.38 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 23 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| 61 | 3:54.18 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 7 June 2025 | Canadian Trials | Victoria, Canada |
Short course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:02.59 | Cynthia Woodhead | United States | 1 April 1979 | - | Austin, United States | ||
| 2 | 4:02.05 | Astrid Strauss | East Germany | 8 February 1987 | Bonn Arena Festival | Bonn, West Germany | ||
| 3 | 4:00.03 | Claudia Poll | Costa Rica | 18 April 1997 | World Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | ||
| 4 | 3:59.53 | Lindsay Benko | United States | 26 January 2003 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 5 | 3:56.79 | Laure Manaudou | France | 10 December 2005 | European Championships | Trieste, Italy | ||
| 6 | 3:56.09 | Laure Manaudou | France | 9 December 2006 | European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | ||
| 7 | 3:54.92 | Joanne Jackson | Great Britain | 8 August 2009 | British Grand Prix | Leeds, United Kingdom | ||
| 8 | 3:54.85 | Camille Muffat | France | 24 November 2012 | European Championships | Chartres, France | ||
| 9 | 3:54.52 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | 11 August 2013 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 10 | 3:53.97 | Wang Jianjiahe | China | 4 October 2018 | World Cup | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 11 | 3:53.92 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | ||
| 12 | 3:51.30 | Li Bingjie | China | 27 October 2022 | Chinese National Championships | Beijing, China | ||
| 13 | 3:50.25 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
All-time top 25
| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m freestyle times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m freestyle times |
Men long course
- Correct as of November 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:39.96 | Lukas Märtens | Germany | 12 April 2025 | Stockholm | |
| 2 | 2 | 3:40.07 | Paul Biedermann | Germany | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |
| 3 | 3 | 3:40.08 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 30 July 2002 | Manchester | |
| 4 | 4 | 3:40.14 | Sun Yang | China | 28 July 2012 | London | |
| 5 | 3:40.17 | Thorpe #2 | 22 July 2001 | Fukuoka | |||
| 6 | 3:40.29 | Sun #2 | 23 September 2011 | Rizhao | |||
| 7 | 3:40.33 | Märtens #2 | 25 April 2024 | Berlin | |||
| 8 | 3:40.54 | Thorpe #3 | 18 March 2002 | Brisbane | |||
| 9 | 3:40.59 | Thorpe #4 | 16 September 2000 | Sydney | |||
| 10 | 3:40.61 | Märtens #3 | 1 May 2025 | Berlin | |||
| 5 | 11 | 3:40.68 | Samuel Short | Australia | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 6 | 12 | 3:40.70 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 13 | 3:40.76 | Thorpe #5 | 24 March 2001 | Hobart | |||
| 14 | 3:41.03 | Short #2 | 9 June 2025 | Adelaide | |||
| 7 | 15 | 3:41.11 | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |
| 8 | 16 | 3:41.22 | Elijah Winnington | Australia | 18 June 2022 | Budapest | |
| 17 | 3:41.33 | Thorpe #6 | 13 May 2000 | Sydney | |||
| 9 | 18 | 3:41.35 | Zhang Lin | China | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |
| 19 | 3:41.38 | Sun #3 | 23 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 20 | 3:41.41 | Winnington #2 | 17 April 2024 | Gold Coast | |||
| 21 | 3:41.48 | Sun #4 | 5 April 2011 | Wuhan | |||
| 10 | 22 | 3:41.53 | Park Tae-hwan | South Korea | 16 November 2010 | Guangzhou | |
| 11 | 23 | 3:41.55 | Mack Horton | Australia | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |
| 24 | 3:41.59 | Sun #5 | 28 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 25 | 3:41.60 | Märtens #4 | 9 April 2022 | Stockholm | |||
| 12 | 3:42.42 | Kim Woo-min | South Korea | 1 June 2024 | Monaco | ||
| 13 | 3:42.51 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 22 July 2001 | Fukuoka | ||
| 14 | 3:42.76 | Guilherme Costa | Brazil | 27 July 2024 | Paris | ||
| 15 | 3:42.78 | Larsen Jensen | United States | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | ||
| 16 | 3:42.81 | Oliver Klemet | Germany | 19 April 2024 | Magdeburg | ||
| 17 | 3:42.82 | Zhang Zhanshuo | China | 10 November 2025 | Shenzhen | ||
| 18 | 3:43.11 | Peter Vanderkaay | United States | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | ||
| 19 | 3:43.23 | Gabriele Detti | Italy | 19 July 2019 | Gwangju | ||
| 20 | 3:43.24 | Felix Auböck | Austria | 23 June 2024 | Belgrade | ||
| 21 | 3:43.27 | Jack McLoughlin | Australia | 12 June 2021 | Adelaide | ||
| 22 | 3:43.33 | Rex Maurer | United States | 6 June 2025 | Indianapolis | ||
| 23 | 3:43.36 | Danas Rapsys | Lithuania | 12 May 2019 | Budapest | ||
| 24 | 3:43.40 | Massimiliano Rosolino | Italy | 16 September 2000 | Sydney | ||
| 25 | 3:43.42 | Conor Dwyer | United States | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:32.25 | Yannick Agnel | France | 15 November 2012 | Angers | |
| 2 | 2 | 3:32.77 | Paul Biedermann | Germany | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | |
| 3 | 3 | 3:33.20 | Danas Rapšys | Lithuania | 4 December 2019 | Glasgow | |
| 4 | 3:34.01 | Rapšys #2 | 11 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 4 | 5 | 3:34.32 | Péter Bernek | Hungary | 5 December 2014 | Doha | |
| 5 | 6 | 3:34.38 | Kieran Smith | United States | 15 December 2022 | Melbourne | |
| 6 | 7 | 3:34.46 | Duncan Scott | Great Britain | 31 October 2024 | Singapore | |
| 8 | 3:34.55 | Biedermann #2 | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 7 | 9 | 3:34.58 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 18 July 2002 | Sydney | |
| 8 | 10 | 3:34.59 | Park Tae-hwan | South Korea | 6 December 2016 | Windsor | |
| 9 | 11 | 3:34.63 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 21 January 2003 | Stockholm | |
| 10 | 12 | 3:34.66 | Zhang Lin | China | 22 February 2009 | Tokyo | |
| 11 | 13 | 3:34.81 | Peter Vanderkaay | United States | 22 February 2009 | Tokyo | |
| 14 | 3:35.01 | Hackett #2 | 2 April 1999 | Hong Kong | |||
| 12 | 15 | 3:35.05 | Thomas Neill | Australia | 15 December 2022 | Melbourne | |
| 16 | 3:35.16 | Hackett #3 | 19 July 2008 | Melbourne | |||
| 13 | 17 | 3:35.30 | Aleksandr Krasnykh | Russia | 6 December 2016 | Windsor | |
| 18 | 3:35.36 | Hackett #4 | 31 August 2007 | Melbourne | |||
| 19 | 3:35.46 | Bernek #2 | 2 December 2015 | Netanya | |||
| 14 | 20 | 3:35.47 | Daniel Wiffen | Ireland | 5 December 2023 | Otopeni | |
| 21 | 3:35.49 | Rapšys #3 | 1 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 22 | 3:35.51 | Krasnykh #2 | 13 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| 23 | 3:35.64 | Thorpe #2 | 2 April 1999 | Hong Kong | |||
| 15 | 24 | 3:35.67 | Luke Hobson | United States | 26 August 2022 | Sydney | |
| 25 | 3:35.73 | Hackett #5 | 26 August 2006 | Hobart | |||
| 16 | 3:35.75 | Nikita Lobintsev | Russia | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||
| 17 | 3:35.89 | Elijah Winnington | Australia | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 18 | 3:35.90 | Felix Auböck | Austria | 16 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | ||
| 19 | 3:36.09 | Tyler Melbourne-Smith | Great Britain | 11 December 2025 | Sheffield | ||
| 20 | 3:36.12 | Samuel Short | Australia | 1 October 2025 | Melbourne | ||
| 21 | 3:36.30 | Matthew Sates | South Africa | 21 October 2022 | Berlin | ||
| 22 | 3:36.31 | Carson Foster | United States | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 23 | 3:36.33 | Jack McMillan | Great Britain | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 24 | 3:36.35 | James Guy | Great Britain | 5 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 25 | 3:36.43 | Pan Zhanle | China | 24 October 2024 | Incheon |
Women long course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:54.18 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 7 June 2025 | Victoria | |
| 2 | 3:55.37 | McIntosh #2 | 4 December 2025 | Austin | |||
| 2 | 3 | 3:55.38 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 4 | 3:55.44 | Titmus #2 | 10 June 2024 | Brisbane | |||
| 5 | 3:56.08 | McIntosh #3 | 28 March 2023 | Toronto | |||
| 6 | 3:56.26 | McIntosh #4 | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 7 | 3:56.40 | Titmus #3 | 22 May 2022 | Adelaide | |||
| 3 | 8 | 3:56.46 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |
| 9 | 3:56.69 | Titmus #4 | 26 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 10 | 3:56.81 | Ledecky #2 | 1 May 2025 | Fort Lauderdale | |||
| 11 | 3:56.90 | Titmus #5 | 13 June 2021 | Adelaide | |||
| 12 | 3:57.36 | Ledecky #3 | 26 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 13 | 3:57.49 | Titmus #6 | 27 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 14 | 3:57.94 | Ledecky #4 | 27 May 2018 | Indianapolis | |||
| 15 | 3:58.06 | Titmus #7 | 3 August 2022 | Birmingham | |||
| 16 | 3:58.15 | Ledecky #5 | 18 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 17 | 3:58.21 | Li Bingjie | China | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | |
| 18 | 3:58.28 | McIntosh #5 | 1 May 2025 | Fort Lauderdale | |||
| 19 | 3:58.34 | Ledecky #6 | 23 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 20 | 3:58.35 | Ledecky #7 | 15 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 21 | 3:58.37 | Ledecky #8 | 23 August 2014 | Gold Coast | |||
| McIntosh #6 | 27 July 2024 | Paris | |||||
| 23 | 3:58.44 | Ledecky #9 | 30 June 2017 | Indianapolis | |||
| 24 | 3:58.47 | Titmus #8 | 13 June 2023 | Melbourne | |||
| 25 | 3:58.49 | Ledecky #10 | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 5 | 3:58.87 | Lani Pallister | Australia | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | ||
| 6 | 3:59.15 | Federica Pellegrini | Italy | 26 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 7 | 3:59.44 | Erika Fairweather | New Zealand | 11 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| 8 | 4:00.05 | Claire Weinstein | United States | 6 June 2025 | Indianapolis | ||
| 9 | 4:00.60 | Joanne Jackson | Great Britain | 26 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 10 | 4:00.65 | Leah Smith | United States | 27 June 2016 | Omaha | ||
| 11 | 4:00.79 | Rebecca Adlington | Great Britain | 26 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 12 | 4:01.13 | Camille Muffat | France | 18 March 2012 | Dunkirk | ||
| 13 | 4:01.23 | Jazmin Carlin | Great Britain | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 14 | 4:01.31 | Ajna Késely | Hungary | 21 July 2019 | Gwangju | ||
| 15 | 4:01.77 | Allison Schmitt | United States | 29 July 2012 | London | ||
| 16 | 4:01.90 | Yang Peiqi | China | 10 November 2025 | Shenzhen | ||
| 17 | 4:01.95 | Tang Muhan | China | 20 September 2021 | Xi'an | ||
| 18 | 4:02.08 | Paige Madden | United States | 15 June 2024 | Indianapolis | ||
| 19 | 4:02.13 | Laure Manaudou | France | 31 July 2006 | Budapest | ||
| 20 | 4:02.14 | Isabel Gose | Germany | 27 July 2024 | Paris | ||
| 21 | 4:02.20 | Katie Hoff | United States | 16 February 2008 | Columbia | ||
| 22 | 4:02.35 | Chen Qian | China | 17 October 2009 | Jinan | ||
| 23 | 4:02.37 | Boglárka Kapás | Hungary | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 24 | 4:02.47 | Melani Costa | Spain | 28 July 2013 | Barcelona | ||
| 25 | 4:02.57 | Liu Yaxin | China | 17 May 2025 | Shenzhen |
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:50.25 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 2 | 2 | 3:51.30 | Li Bingjie | China | 27 October 2022 | Beijing | |
| 3 | 3 | 3:51.87 | Lani Pallister | Australia | 23 October 2025 | Toronto | |
| 4 | 3:52.42 | Pallister #2 | 17 October 2025 | Westmont | |||
| 5 | 3:52.80 | McIntosh #2 | 28 October 2022 | Toronto | |||
| 4 | 6 | 3:52.88 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 28 October 2022 | Toronto | |
| 7 | 3:53.73 | Pallister #3 | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 5 | 8 | 3:53.92 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |
| 6 | 9 | 3:53.97 | Wang Jianjiahe | China | 4 October 2018 | Budapest | |
| 10 | 3:54.04 | Ledecky #2 | 3 November 2022 | Indianapolis | |||
| 11 | 3:54.06 | Ledecky #3 | 6 October 2019 | Indianapolis | |||
| 12 | 3:54.16 | Pallister #4 | 25 October 2025 | Toronto | |||
| 7 | 13 | 3:54.33 | Isabel Gose | Germany | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |
| 14 | 3:54.38 | Pallister #5 | 10 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 8 | 15 | 3:54.52 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | 11 August 2013 | Berlin | |
| 16 | 3:54.56 | Wang #2 | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 17 | 3:54.58 | Titmus #2 | 27 October 2020 | Brisbane | |||
| 18 | 3:54.63 | Wang #3 | 28 September 2018 | Eindhoven | |||
| 9 | 19 | 3:54.85 | Camille Muffat | France | 24 November 2012 | Chartres | |
| 10 | 20 | 3:54.88 | Mary-Sophie Harvey | Canada | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 11 | 21 | 3:54.92 | Joanne Jackson | Great Britain | 8 August 2009 | Leeds | |
| 22 | 3:54.93 | Muffat #2 | 21 October 2012 | Berlin | |||
| 23 | 3:55.04 | Pallister #6 | 13 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 12 | 24 | 3:55.12 | Paige Madden | United States | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 13 | 25 | 3:55.16 | Lauren Boyle | New Zealand | 8 August 2013 | Eindhoven | |
| 14 | 3:55.89 | Allison Schmitt | United States | 18 December 2009 | Manchester | ||
| 15 | 3:56.00 | Erika Fairweather | New Zealand | 13 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 16 | 3:56.09 | Laure Manaudou | France | 9 December 2006 | Helsinki | ||
| 17 | 3:56.12 | Claire Weinstein | United States | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 18 | 3:56.24 | Coralie Balmy | France | 16 November 2008 | Berlin | ||
| 19 | 3:56.52 | Siobhán Haughey | Hong Kong | 21 October 2022 | Berlin | ||
| 20 | 3:56.70 | Simona Quadarella | Italy | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 21 | 3:56.71 | Freya Colbert | Great Britain | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 22 | 3:56.84 | Melani Costa | Spain | 8 August 2013 | Eindhoven | ||
| 23 | 3:57.07 | Katie Hoff | United States | 17 December 2010 | Dubai | ||
| 24 | 3:57.45 | Holly Hibbott | Great Britain | 21 December 2019 | Las Vegas | ||
| 25 | 3:57.59 | Federica Pellegrini | Italy | 6 March 2011 | Rome |
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