World record progression 400 metres freestyle
The first world record in the men's 400 metres freestyle in long course swimming was recognised by FINA in 1908. In the short course 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 in 2008 and by Arena, Adidas and Italian swimming suit manufacturer Jaked in 2009. FINA's ban on non-textile suit came into effect in January 2010. FINA also released a list of approved suits.
All-time top 25
Men long course
- Correct as of November 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 3:39.96 | Lukas Märtens | 12 April 2025 | Stockholm | ||
| 2 | 2 | 3:40.07 | Paul Biedermann | 26 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 3 | 3 | 3:40.08 | Ian Thorpe | 30 July 2002 | Manchester | ||
| 4 | 4 | 3:40.14 | Sun Yang | 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 | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||
| 6 | 12 | 3:40.70 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | 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 | 26 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 8 | 16 | 3:41.22 | Elijah Winnington | 18 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 17 | 3:41.33 | Thorpe #6 | 13 May 2000 | Sydney | |||
| 9 | 18 | 3:41.35 | Zhang Lin | 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 | 16 November 2010 | Guangzhou | ||
| 11 | 23 | 3:41.55 | Mack Horton | 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 | 1 June 2024 | Monaco | |||
| 13 | 3:42.51 | Grant Hackett | 22 July 2001 | Fukuoka | |||
| 14 | 3:42.76 | Guilherme Costa | 27 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 15 | 3:42.78 | Larsen Jensen | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | |||
| 16 | 3:42.81 | Oliver Klemet | 19 April 2024 | Magdeburg | |||
| 17 | 3:42.82 | Zhang Zhanshuo | 10 November 2025 | Shenzhen | |||
| 18 | 3:43.11 | Peter Vanderkaay | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | |||
| 19 | 3:43.23 | Gabriele Detti | 19 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 20 | 3:43.24 | Felix Auböck | 23 June 2024 | Belgrade | |||
| 21 | 3:43.27 | Jack McLoughlin | 12 June 2021 | Adelaide | |||
| 22 | 3:43.33 | Rex Maurer | 6 June 2025 | Indianapolis | |||
| 23 | 3:43.36 | Danas Rapsys | 12 May 2019 | Budapest | |||
| 24 | 3:43.40 | Massimiliano Rosolino | 16 September 2000 | Sydney | |||
| 25 | 3:43.42 | Conor Dwyer | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 3:32.25 | Yannick Agnel | 15 November 2012 | Angers | ||
| 2 | 2 | 3:32.77 | Paul Biedermann | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 3 | 3 | 3:33.20 | Danas Rapšys | 4 December 2019 | Glasgow | ||
| 4 | 3:34.01 | Rapšys #2 | 11 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 4 | 5 | 3:34.32 | Péter Bernek | 5 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 5 | 6 | 3:34.38 | Kieran Smith | 15 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 6 | 7 | 3:34.46 | Duncan Scott | 31 October 2024 | Singapore | ||
| 8 | 3:34.55 | Biedermann #2 | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 7 | 9 | 3:34.58 | Grant Hackett | 18 July 2002 | Sydney | ||
| 8 | 10 | 3:34.59 | Park Tae-hwan | 6 December 2016 | Windsor | ||
| 9 | 11 | 3:34.63 | Ian Thorpe | 21 January 2003 | Stockholm | ||
| 10 | 12 | 3:34.66 | Zhang Lin | 22 February 2009 | Tokyo | ||
| 11 | 13 | 3:34.81 | Peter Vanderkaay | 22 February 2009 | Tokyo | ||
| 14 | 3:35.01 | Hackett #2 | 2 April 1999 | Hong Kong | |||
| 12 | 15 | 3:35.05 | Thomas Neill | 15 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 16 | 3:35.16 | Hackett #3 | 19 July 2008 | Melbourne | |||
| 13 | 17 | 3:35.30 | Aleksandr Krasnykh | 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 | 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 | 26 August 2022 | Sydney | ||
| 25 | 3:35.73 | Hackett #5 | 26 August 2006 | Hobart | |||
| 16 | 3:35.75 | Nikita Lobintsev | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 17 | 3:35.89 | Elijah Winnington | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 18 | 3:35.90 | Felix Auböck | 16 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 19 | 3:36.09 | Tyler Melbourne-Smith | 11 December 2025 | Sheffield | |||
| 20 | 3:36.12 | Samuel Short | 1 October 2025 | Melbourne | |||
| 21 | 3:36.30 | Matthew Sates | 21 October 2022 | Berlin | |||
| 22 | 3:36.31 | Carson Foster | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 23 | 3:36.33 | Jack McMillan | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 24 | 3:36.35 | James Guy | 5 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 25 | 3:36.43 | Pan Zhanle | 24 October 2024 | Incheon |
Women long course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 3:54.18 | Summer McIntosh | 7 June 2025 | Victoria | ||
| 2 | 3:55.37 | McIntosh #2 | 4 December 2025 | Austin | |||
| 2 | 3 | 3:55.38 | Ariarne Titmus | 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 | 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 | 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 | |||
| 21 | 3:58.37 | 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 | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 6 | 3:59.15 | Federica Pellegrini | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 7 | 3:59.44 | Erika Fairweather | 11 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 8 | 4:00.05 | Claire Weinstein | 6 June 2025 | Indianapolis | |||
| 9 | 4:00.60 | Joanne Jackson | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 10 | 4:00.65 | Leah Smith | 27 June 2016 | Omaha | |||
| 11 | 4:00.79 | Rebecca Adlington | 26 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 12 | 4:01.13 | Camille Muffat | 18 March 2012 | Dunkirk | |||
| 13 | 4:01.23 | Jazmin Carlin | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 14 | 4:01.31 | Ajna Késely | 21 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 15 | 4:01.77 | Allison Schmitt | 29 July 2012 | London | |||
| 16 | 4:01.90 | Yang Peiqi | 10 November 2025 | Shenzhen | |||
| 17 | 4:01.95 | Tang Muhan | 20 September 2021 | Xi'an | |||
| 18 | 4:02.08 | Paige Madden | 15 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 19 | 4:02.13 | Laure Manaudou | 31 July 2006 | Budapest | |||
| 20 | 4:02.14 | Isabel Gose | 27 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 21 | 4:02.20 | Katie Hoff | 16 February 2008 | Columbia | |||
| 22 | 4:02.35 | Chen Qian | 17 October 2009 | Jinan | |||
| 23 | 4:02.37 | Boglárka Kapás | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 24 | 4:02.47 | Melani Costa | 28 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 25 | 4:02.57 | Liu Yaxin | 17 May 2025 | Shenzhen | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 3:50.25 | Summer McIntosh | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 2 | 2 | 3:51.30 | Li Bingjie | 27 October 2022 | Beijing | ||
| 3 | 3 | 3:51.87 | Lani Pallister | 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 | 28 October 2022 | Toronto | ||
| 7 | 3:53.73 | Pallister #3 | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 5 | 8 | 3:53.92 | Ariarne Titmus | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | ||
| 6 | 9 | 3:53.97 | Wang Jianjiahe | 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 | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 14 | 3:54.38 | Pallister #5 | 10 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 8 | 15 | 3:54.52 | Mireia Belmonte | 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 | 24 November 2012 | Chartres | ||
| 10 | 20 | 3:54.88 | Mary-Sophie Harvey | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 11 | 21 | 3:54.92 | Joanne Jackson | 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 | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 13 | 25 | 3:55.16 | Lauren Boyle | 8 August 2013 | Eindhoven | ||
| 14 | 3:55.89 | Allison Schmitt | 18 December 2009 | Manchester | |||
| 15 | 3:56.00 | Erika Fairweather | 13 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 16 | 3:56.09 | Laure Manaudou | 9 December 2006 | Helsinki | |||
| 17 | 3:56.12 | Claire Weinstein | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 18 | 3:56.24 | Coralie Balmy | 16 November 2008 | Berlin | |||
| 19 | 3:56.52 | Siobhán Haughey | 21 October 2022 | Berlin | |||
| 20 | 3:56.70 | Simona Quadarella | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 21 | 3:56.71 | Freya Colbert | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 22 | 3:56.84 | Melani Costa | 8 August 2013 | Eindhoven | |||
| 23 | 3:57.07 | Katie Hoff | 17 December 2010 | Dubai | |||
| 24 | 3:57.45 | Holly Hibbott | 21 December 2019 | Las Vegas | |||
| 25 | 3:57.59 | Federica Pellegrini | 6 March 2011 | Rome | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |