The firstworld record in the 400 metresindividual medley in long course (50 metres)swimming was recognized by theInternational Swimming Federation (FINA) in1957, followed by the women a year later. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:15.6 | Gary Heinrich | 27 August 1957 | - | Philadelphia, United States | |||
| 2 | 5:12.9 | Vladimir Strushanov | 20 October 1957 | - | Moscow, Soviet Union | |||
| 3 | 5:08.8 | Ian Black | 6 June 1959 | - | Cardiff, United Kingdom | |||
| 4 | 5:07.8 | George Harrison | 24 June 1960 | - | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 5 | 5:05.3 | George Harrison | 24 June 1960 | - | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 6 | 5:04.5 | Dennis Rounsaville | 22 July 1960 | - | Toledo, United States | |||
| 7 | 5:04.3 | Ted Stickles | 1 July 1961 | - | Chicago, United States | |||
| 8 | 4:55.6 | Ted Stickles | 18 August 1961 | - | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 9 | 4:53.8 | Gerhard Hetz | 24 May 1962 | - | Moscow, Soviet Union | |||
| 10 | 4:51.4 | Ted Stickles | 30 June 1962 | - | Chicago, United States | |||
| 11 | 4:51.0 | Ted Stickles | 12 July 1962 | - | Louisville, United States | |||
| 12 | 4:50.2 | Gerhard Hetz | 12 October 1963 | - | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| 13 | 4:48.6 | Dick Roth | 31 July 1964 | - | Los Altos, United States | |||
| 14 | 4:45.4 | Dick Roth | 14 October 1964 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| 15 | 4:45.3 | Andrey Dunayev | 3 April 1968 | - | Tallinn, Soviet Union | |||
| 16 | 4:45.1 | Greg Buckingham | 6 July 1968 | Santa Clara Invitational | Santa Clara, United States | |||
| 17 | 4:43.4 | Gary Hall Sr. | 20 July 1968 | - | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 18 | 4:43.3 | h | Charlie Hickcox | 30 August 1968 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 19 | 4:39.0 | Charlie Hickcox | 30 August 1968 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | |||
| 20 | 4:38.7 | Gary Hall Sr. | 11 July 1969 | Santa Clara Invitational | Santa Clara, United States | |||
| 21 | 4:33.9 | Gary Hall Sr. | 15 August 1969 | AAU Nationals | Louisville, United States | |||
| 22 | 4:31.0 | Gary Hall Sr. | 21 August 1970 | AAU Nationals | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 23 | 4:30.81 | Gary Hall Sr. | 3 August 1972 | US Olympic Trials | Chicago, United States | |||
| 24 | 4:28.89 | András Hargitay | 20 August 1974 | European Championships | Vienna, Austria | |||
| 25 | 4:26.00 | Zoltán Verrasztó | 2 April 1976 | AAU Indoor Championships | Long Beach, United States | |||
| 26 | 4:23.68 | Rod Strachan | 25 July 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | |||
| 27 | 4:23.39 | Jesse Vassallo | 4 August 1978 | AAU Championships | The Woodlands, United States | |||
| 28 | 4:20.05 | Jesse Vassallo | 28 August 1978 | World Championships | West Berlin, West Germany | |||
| 29 | 4:19.78 | Ricardo Prado | 8 August 1982 | World Championships | Guayaquil, Ecuador | |||
| 30 | 4:19.61 | Jens-Peter Berndt | 23 May 1984 | East German Championships | Magdeburg, East Germany | |||
| 31 | 4:17.53 | Alex Baumann | 17 June 1984 | Canadian Olympic Trials | Etobicoke, Canada | |||
| 32 | 4:17.41 | Alex Baumann | 30 July 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 33 | 4:16.12 | David Wharton | 14 August 1987 | Pan Pacific Championships | Brisbane, Australia | |||
| 34 | 4:15.42 | Tamás Darnyi | 19 August 1987 | European Championships | Strasbourg, France | |||
| 35 | 4:14.75 | Tamás Darnyi | 21 September 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | |||
| 36 | 4:12.36 | Tamás Darnyi | 8 January 1991 | World Championships | Perth, Australia | |||
| 37 | 4:12.30 | Tom Dolan | 11 September 1994 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | |||
| 38 | 4:11.76 | Tom Dolan | 17 September 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | [1] | ||
| 39 | 4:11.09 | Michael Phelps | 15 August 2002 | US National Championships | Fort Lauderdale, United States | [2] | ||
| 40 | 4:10.73 | Michael Phelps | 7 April 2003 | Duel in the Pool | Indianapolis, United States | [3] | ||
| 41 | 4:09.09 | Michael Phelps | 27 July 2003 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain | [4] | ||
| 42 | 4:08.41 | Michael Phelps | 7 July 2004 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | [5] | ||
| 43 | 4:08.26 | Michael Phelps | 14 August 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | [6] | ||
| 44 | 4:06.22 | Michael Phelps | 1 April 2007 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [7] | ||
| 45 | 4:05.25 | Michael Phelps | 29 June 2008 | US Olympic Trials | Omaha, United States | [8] | ||
| 46 | 4:03.84 | Michael Phelps | 10 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | [9] | ||
| 47 | 4:02.50 | Léon Marchand | 23 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | [10][11] |
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:08.77 | Luca Sacchi | 29 February 1992 | World Cup | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | |||
| 2 | 4:07.10 | Jani Sievinen | 9 February 1993 | World Cup | Malmö, Sweden | |||
| 3 | 4:06.03 | Jani Sievinen | 20 January 1996 | - | Lappeenranta, Finland | |||
| 4 | 4:05.59 | Marcel Wouda | 1 February 1997 | World Cup | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | |||
| 5 | 4:05.41 | Marcel Wouda | 8 February 1997 | World Cup | Paris, France | |||
| 6 | 4:04.24 | Matthew Dunn | 24 September 1998 | Australian Championships | Perth, Australia | |||
| 7 | 4:02.72 | Brian Johns | 23 February 2003 | Canadian University Championships | Victoria, Canada | |||
| 8 | 4:00.37 | László Cseh | 9 December 2005 | European Championships | Trieste, Italy | |||
| 9 | 3:59.33 | László Cseh | 14 December 2007 | European Championships | Debrecen, Hungary | |||
| 10 | 3:57.27 | László Cseh | 11 December 2009 | European Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [12] | ||
| 11 | 3:55.50 | Ryan Lochte | 16 December 2010 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [13] | ||
| 12 | 3:54.81 | Daiya Seto | 20 December 2019 | International Swimming League | Las Vegas, United States | [14] |
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:46.6 | Sylvia Ruuska | 27 June 1958 | - | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 2 | 5:43.7 | Sylvia Ruuska | 1 August 1958 | - | Topeka, United States | |||
| 3 | 5:41.1 | Sylvia Ruuska | 24 February 1959 | - | Melbourne, Australia | |||
| 4 | 5:40.2 | Sylvia Ruuska | 17 July 1959 | - | Redding, United States | |||
| 5 | 5:36.5 | Donna de Varona | 15 July 1960 | - | Indianapolis, United States | |||
| 6 | 5:34.5 | Donna de Varona | 11 August 1961 | - | Philadelphia, United States | |||
| 7 | 5:29.7 | Donna de Varona | 2 June 1962 | - | Los Altos, United States | |||
| 8 | 5:27.4 | Sharon Finneran | 26 July 1962 | - | Osaka, Japan | |||
| 9 | 5:24.7 | Donna de Varona | 26 July 1962 | - | Osaka, Japan | |||
| 10 | 5:21.9 | Sharon Finneran | 28 July 1962 | - | Osaka, Japan | |||
| 11 | 5:16.5 | Donna de Varona | 10 March 1964 | - | Lima, Peru | |||
| 12 | 5:14.9 | Donna de Varona | 30 August 1964 | - | New York City, United States | |||
| 13 | 5:11.7 | Claudia Kolb | 9 July 1967 | Santa Clara International | Santa Clara, United States | |||
| 14 | 5:09.7 | Claudia Kolb | 1 August 1967 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | |||
| 15 | 5:08.2 | Claudia Kolb | 19 August 1967 | AAU Nationals | Philadelphia, United States | |||
| 16 | 5:04.7 | Claudia Kolb | 24 August 1968 | US Olympic Trials | Los Angeles, United States | |||
| 17 | 5:02.97 | Gail Neall | 31 August 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich, West Germany | |||
| 18 | 5:01.10 | Angela Franke | 18 August 1973 | - | Utrecht, Netherlands | |||
| 19 | 4:57.51 | Gudrun Wegner | 6 September 1973 | World Championships | Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | |||
| 20 | 4:52.42 | Ulrike Tauber | 21 August 1974 | European Championships | Vienna, Austria | |||
| 21 | 4:52.20 | Ulrike Tauber | 7 June 1975 | East German Championships | Wittenberg, East Germany | |||
| 22 | 4:48.79 | Birgit Treiber | 1 June 1976 | East German Championships | East Berlin, East Germany | |||
| 23 | 4:42.77 | Ulrike Tauber | 24 July 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | |||
| 24 | 4:40.83 | Tracy Caulkins | 23 August 1978 | World Championships | West Berlin, West Germany | |||
| 25 | 4:39.96 | Petra Schneider | 30 March 1980 | - | Leningrad, Soviet Union | |||
| 26 | 4:38.44 | Petra Schneider | 27 May 1980 | - | Magdeburg, East Germany | |||
| 27 | 4:36.29 | Petra Schneider | 26 July 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Soviet Union | |||
| 28 | 4:36.10 | Petra Schneider | 26 July 1982 | World Championships | Guayaquil, Ecuador | |||
| 29 | 4:34.79 | Chen Yan | 13 October 1997 | Chinese National Games | Shanghai, China | |||
| 30 | 4:33.59 | Yana Klochkova | 16 September 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | [15] | ||
| 31 | 4:32.89 | Katie Hoff | 1 April 2007 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [16] | ||
| 32 | 4:31.46 | Stephanie Rice | 22 March 2008 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | [17] | ||
| 33 | 4:31.12 | Katie Hoff | 29 June 2008 | US Olympic Trials | Omaha, United States | [18] | ||
| 34 | 4:29.45 | Stephanie Rice | 10 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | [19] | ||
| 35 | 4:28.43 | Ye Shiwen | 28 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [20] | ||
| 36 | 4:26.36 | Katinka Hosszú | 6 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [21] | ||
| 37 | 4:25.87 | Summer McIntosh | 1 April 2023 | Canadian Trials | Toronto, Canada | [22] | ||
| 38 | 4:24.38 | Summer McIntosh | 16 May 2024 | Canadian Trials | Toronto, Canada | [23][24] | ||
| 39 | 4:23.65 | Summer McIntosh | 11 June 2025 | Canadian Trials | Victoria, Canada | [25] |
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:29.00 | Dai Guohong | 2 December 1993 | World Championships | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | |||
| 2 | 4:27.83 | Yana Klochkova | 20 January 2002 | World Cup | Paris, France | |||
| 3 | 4:26.52 | Kirsty Coventry | 9 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | [26] | ||
| 4 | 4:25.87 | Julia Smit | 28 November 2008 | Canada Cup | Toronto, Canada | |||
| 5 | 4:25.06 | Mireia Belmonte | 14 December 2008 | European Championships | Rijeka, Croatia | [27] | ||
| 6 | 4:22.88 | Kathryn Meaklim | 22 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore | [28] | ||
| 7 | 4:21.04 | Julia Smit | 18 December 2009 | Duel in the Pool | Manchester, United Kingdom | [29] | ||
| 8 | 4:20.85 | Katinka Hosszú | 11 August 2013 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [30] | ||
| 9 | 4:20.83 | Katinka Hosszú | 28 August 2014 | World Cup | Doha, Qatar | [31] | ||
| 10 | 4:19.86 | Mireia Belmonte | 3 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [32] | ||
| 11 | 4:19.46 | h | Katinka Hosszú | 2 December 2015 | European Championships | Netanya, Israel | [33] | |
| 12 | 4:18.94 | Mireia Belmonte | 12 August 2017 | World Cup | Eindhoven, Netherlands | [34] | ||
| 13 | 4:15.48 | Summer McIntosh | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [35][36] |
| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25400 m individual medley times and the top 25athletes: |
| - denotes top performance forathletes in the top 25400 m individual medley times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25400 m individual medley times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m individual medley times |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4:02.50 | Léon Marchand | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | [10] | |
| 2 | 4:02.95 | Marchand #2 | 28 July 2024 | Paris | [38] | ||
| 2 | 3 | 4:03.84 | Michael Phelps | United States | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | [9] |
| 4 | 4:04.28 | Marchand #3 | 18 June 2022 | Budapest | [39] | ||
| 5 | 4:04.73 | Marchand #4 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | [40] | ||
| 3 | 6 | 4:05.18 | Ryan Lochte | United States | 28 July 2012 | London | [41] |
| 7 | 4:05.25 | Phelps #2 | 18 June 2008 | Omaha | [8] | ||
| 4 | 8 | 4:05.90 | Chase Kalisz | United States | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | [42] |
| 5 | 9 | 4:06.05 | Kosuke Hagino | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [43] | |
| 10 | 4:06.08 | Lochte #2 | 18 June 2008 | Omaha | [8] | ||
| 6 | 11 | 4:06.09 | Daiya Seto | 25 January 2020 | Tokyo | [44] | |
| 7 | 12 | 4:06.16 | László Cseh | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | [9] | |
| 13 | 4:06.22 | Phelps #3 | 1 April 2007 | Melbourne | [7] | ||
| 14 | 4:06.40 | Lochte #3 | 7 July 2009 | Indianapolis | [45] | ||
| 8 | 15 | 4:06.56 | Carson Foster | United States | 18 June 2022 | Budapest | [39] |
| 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | [10] | |||||
| 17 | 4:06.75 | Kalisz #2 | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [43] | ||
| 9 | 18 | 4:06.96 | Tyler Clary | United States | 7 July 2009 | Indianapolis | [45] |
| 19 | 4:06.99 | Kalisz #3 | 29 June 2017 | Indianapolis | [46] | ||
| 20 | 4:07.01 | Lochte #4 | 2 August 2009 | Rome | [47] | ||
| 21 | 4:07.06 | Lochte #5 | 25 June 2012 | Omaha | [48] | ||
| 22 | 4:07.11 | Marchand #5 | 16 May 2025 | Austin | [49] | ||
| 23 | 4:07.13 | Lochte #6 | 31 July 2011 | Shanghai | [50] | ||
| 10 | 24 | 4:07.21 | Tomoyuki Matsushita | 4 September 2025 | Tokyo | [51] | |
| 25 | 4:07.31 | Clary #2 | 2 August 2009 | Rome | [47] | ||
| 11 | 4:07.46 | Bobby Finke | United States | 5 June 2025 | Indianapolis | [52] | |
| 12 | 4:07.47 | Dávid Verrasztó | 24 June 2017 | Rome | [53] | ||
| 13 | 4:08.05 | Ilya Borodin | 25 July 2022 | Kazan | [54] | ||
| 14 | 4:08.70 | Lewis Clareburt | 30 July 2022 | Birmingham | [55] | ||
| 15 | 4:08.85 | Max Litchfield | 28 July 2024 | Paris | [38] | ||
| 16 | 4:08.86 | Thiago Pereira | 2 August 2009 | Rome | [47] | ||
| 28 July 2012 | London | [41] | |||||
| 17 | 4:09.10 | Wang Shun | 4 September 2013 | Shenyang | [56] | ||
| 18 | 4:09.18 | Duncan Scott | 7 April 2022 | Sheffield | [57] | ||
| 19 | 4:09.22 | Jay Litherland | United States | 28 July 2019 | Gwangju | [58] | |
| 23 | 4:09.26 | Asaki Nishikawa | 4 September 2025 | Tokyo | [51] | ||
| 20 | 4:09.27 | Brendon Smith | 28 July 2021 | Tokyo | [59] | ||
| 21 | 4:09.29 | Alberto Razzetti | 30 November 2023 | Riccione | [60] | ||
| 22 | 4:09.38 | Yumeki Kojima | 19 July 2025 | Suzuka | [61] | ||
| 24 | 4:09.65 | Rex Maurer | United States | 5 June 2025 | Indianapolis | [52] | |
| 25 | 4:09.79 | Kosuke Makino | 23 March 2025 | Tokyo | [62] |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:54.81 | Daiya Seto | 20 December 2019 | Las Vegas | [14] | |
| 2 | 2 | 3:55.50 | Ryan Lochte | United States | 16 December 2010 | Dubai | [13] |
| 3 | 3:55.53 | Seto #2 | 26 October 2019 | Tokyo | [64] | ||
| 4 | 3:55.75 | Seto #3 | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | [65] | ||
| 3 | 5 | 3:56.13 | Shaine Casas | United States | 25 October 2025 | Toronto | [66] |
| 6 | 3:56.26 | Seto #4 | 20 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | [67] | ||
| 7 | 3:56.33 | Seto #5 | 4 December 2014 | Doha | [68] | ||
| 8 | 3:56.43 | Seto #6 | 15 December 2018 | Hangzhou | [69] | ||
| 4 | 9 | 3:56.47 | Ilya Borodin | 20 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | [67] | |
| 5 | 10 | 3:56.48 | Kosuke Hagino | 13 January 2014 | Tokyo | [70] | |
| 11 | 3:56.83 | Borodin #2 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [71] | ||
| 6 | 12 | 3:57.01 | Alberto Razzetti | 10 December 2023 | Otopeni | [72] | |
| 13 | 3:57.25 | Seto #7 | 30 September 2018 | Eindhoven | [73] | ||
| 7 | 14 | 3:57.27 | László Cseh | 11 December 2009 | Istanbul | [12] | |
| 8 | 15 | 3:57.40 | Oussama Mellouli | 16 December 2010 | Dubai | [13] | |
| 16 | 3:57.41 | Casas #2 | 19 October 2025 | Westmont | [74] | ||
| 9 | 17 | 3:57.45 | Carson Foster | United States | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [71] |
| 10 | 18 | 3:57.56 | Tyler Clary | United States | 16 December 2010 | Dubai | [13] |
| 19 | 3:57.63 | Foster #2 | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | [65] | ||
| 20 | 3:57.66 | Seto #8 | 15 November 2017 | Tokyo | [75] | ||
| 21 | 3:57.67 | Borodin #3 | 25 November 2024 | Saint Petersburg | [76] | ||
| 22 | 3:57.85 | Seto #9 | 30 October 2021 | Kazan | [77] | ||
| 11 | 23 | 3:57.91 | Thomas Fraser-Holmes | 28 November 2015 | Sydney | [78] | |
| 24 | 3:57.99 | Foster #3 | 20 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | [67] | ||
| 25 | 3:58.08 | Borodin #4 | 24 November 2022 | Kazan | [79] | ||
| 12 | 3:58.30 | Léon Marchand | 26 October 2024 | Incheon | [80] | ||
| 13 | 3:59.21 | Matthew Sates | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | [65] | ||
| 14 | 3:59.23 | Chad le Clos | 9 November 2013 | Tokyo | [81] | ||
| 15 | 3:59.33 | Brendon Smith | 30 September 2021 | Naples | [82] | ||
| 16 | 3:59.47 | Péter Bernek | 14 December 2017 | Copenhagen | [83] | ||
| 17 | 3:59.81 | Duncan Scott | 20 December 2019 | Las Vegas | [14] | ||
| 18 | 3:59.90 | Conor Dwyer | United States | 10 August 2013 | Berlin | [84] | |
| 19 | 3:59.99 | Wang Shun | 17 November 2018 | Singapore | [85] | ||
| 20 | 4:00.10 | Dávid Verrasztó | 11 December 2009 | Istanbul | [12] | ||
| 21 | 4:00.18 | Max Litchfield | 16 December 2018 | Sheffield | [86] | ||
| 22 | 4:00.43 | Kaito Tabuchi | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [71] | ||
| 23 | 4:00.44 | Tomoyuki Matsushita | 19 October 2024 | Tokyo | [87] | ||
| 24 | 4:00.55 | Gal Nevo | 11 December 2009 | Istanbul | [12] | ||
| 25 | 4:00.57 | Tristan Jankovics | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [71] |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4:23.65 | Summer McIntosh | 11 June 2025 | Victoria | [25] | |
| 2 | 4:24.38 | McIntosh #2 | 16 May 2024 | Toronto | [23] | ||
| 3 | 4:25.78 | McIntosh #3 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | [89] | ||
| 4 | 4:25.87 | McIntosh #4 | 1 April 2023 | Toronto | [22] | ||
| 2 | 5 | 4:26.36 | Katinka Hosszú | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [21] | |
| 6 | 4:26.98 | McIntosh #5 | 7 March 2025 | Westmont | [90] | ||
| 7 | 4:27.11 | McIntosh #6 | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | [91] | ||
| 8 | 4:27.71 | McIntosh #7 | 29 July 2024 | Paris | [92] | ||
| 3 | 9 | 4:28.22 | Kaylee McKeown | 18 April 2024 | Gold Coast | [93] | |
| 4 | 10 | 4:28.43 | Ye Shiwen | 28 July 2012 | London | [20] | |
| 11 | 4:28.58 | Hosszú #2 | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [94] | ||
| 12 | 4:28.61 | McIntosh #8 | 2 December 2022 | Greensboro | [95] | ||
| 13 | 4:29.01 | McIntosh #9 | 29 July 2022 | Birmingham | [96] | ||
| 14 | 4:29.12 | McIntosh #10 | 4 March 2022 | Toronto | [97] | ||
| 15 | 4:29.33 | Hosszú #3 | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | [98] | ||
| 5 | 16 | 4:29.45 | Stephanie Rice | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | [19] | |
| 6 | 17 | 4:29.89 | Kirsty Coventry | 10 August 2008 | Beijing | [19] | |
| 17 | 4:29.89 | Hosszú #4 | 4 March 2016 | Marseille | [99] | ||
| 19 | 4:29.96 | McIntosh #11 | 1 December 2023 | Greensboro | [100] | ||
| 20 | 4:30.31 | Hosszú #5 | 2 August 2009 | Rome | [101] | ||
| 21 | 4:30.39 | Hosszú #6 | 9 August 2015 | Kazan | [102] | ||
| Hosszú #7 | 28 July 2019 | Gwangju | [103] | ||||
| 23 | 4:30.41 | Hosszú #8 | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | [104] | ||
| 7 | 24 | 4:30.43 | Li Xuanxu | 17 October 2009 | Jinan | [105] | |
| 25 | 4:30.75 | Hosszú #9 | 11 June 2016 | Barcelona | [106] | ||
| 8 | 4:30.82 | Yui Ohashi | 8 April 2018 | Tokyo | [107] | ||
| 9 | 4:30.85 | Qi Hui | 17 October 2009 | Jinan | |||
| 10 | 4:31.12 | Katie Hoff | United States | 29 June 2008 | Omaha | [18] | |
| 11 | 4:31.15 | Maya Dirado | United States | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [21] | |
| 12 | 4:31.21 | Mireia Belmonte | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | [104] | ||
| 13 | 4:31.27 | Elizabeth Beisel | United States | 28 July 2012 | London | [20] | |
| 14 | 4:31.33 | Hannah Miley | 20 March 2009 | Sheffield | [108] | ||
| 15 | 4:31.41 | Katie Grimes | United States | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | [91] | |
| 16 | 4:32.30 | Jenna Forrester | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | [91] | ||
| 17 | 4:32.52 | Emily Overholt | 9 August 2015 | Kazan | [102] | ||
| 18 | 4:32.53 | Melanie Margalis | United States | 6 March 2020 | Des Moines | [109] | |
| 19 | 4:32.76 | Emma Weyant | United States | 25 July 2021 | Tokyo | [110] | |
| 20 | 4:32.88 | Sydney Pickrem | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | [98] | ||
| 21 | 4:33.01 | Aimee Willmott | 24 July 2014 | Glasgow | [111] | ||
| 22 | 4:33.26 | Mio Narita | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | [89] | ||
| 23 | 4:33.50 | Zhou Min | 4 September 2013 | Shenyang | [56] | ||
| 24 | 4:33.59 | Yana Klochkova | 16 September 2000 | Sydney | [15] | ||
| 25 | 4:33.76 | Yu Zidi | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | [89] |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4:15.48 | Summer McIntosh | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [35] | |
| 2 | 2 | 4:18.94 | Mireia Belmonte | 12 August 2017 | Eindhoven | [34] | |
| 3 | 3 | 4:19.46 | Katinka Hosszú | 2 December 2015 | Netanya | [33] | |
| 4 | 4:19.75 | Hosszú #2 | 2 December 2015 | Netanya | [113] | ||
| 5 | 4:19.82 | Hosszú #3 | 6 August 2017 | Berlin | [114] | ||
| 6 | 4:19.86 | Belmonte #2 | 3 December 2014 | Doha | [32] | ||
| 4 | 7 | 4:20.14 | Katie Grimes | United States | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [35] |
| 8 | 4:20.83 | Hosszú #4 | 28 August 2014 | Doha | [31] | ||
| 9 | 4:20.85 | Hosszú #5 | 11 August 2013 | Berlin | [30] | ||
| 5 | 10 | 4:21.04 | Julia Smit | United States | 18 December 2009 | Manchester | [29] |
| 11 | 4:21.05 | Hosszú #6 | 3 December 2014 | Doha | [115] | ||
| 12 | 4:21.21 | Hosszú #7 | 11 December 2015 | Indianapolis | [116] | ||
| 13 | 4:21.23 | Belmonte #3 | 15 December 2013 | Herning | [117] | ||
| 14 | 4:21.40 | Hosszú #8 | 11 December 2018 | Hangzhou | [118] | ||
| 15 | 4:21.49 | McIntosh #2 | 29 October 2022 | Toronto | [119] | ||
| 16 | 4:21.67 | Hosszú #9 | 6 December 2016 | Windsor | [120] | ||
| 17 | 4:21.91 | Hosszú #10 | 10 November 2018 | Tokyo | [121] | ||
| 18 | 4:22.05 | Hosszú #11 | 14 November 2017 | Tokyo | [122] | ||
| 19 | 4:22.06 | Hosszú #12 | 1 September 2014 | Dubai | [123] | ||
| 20 | 4:22.18 | Hosszú #13 | 8 August 2013 | Eindhoven | [124] | ||
| 21 | 4:22.55 | Belmonte #4 | 6 August 2017 | Berlin | [114] | ||
| 22 | 4:22.68 | Belmonte #5 | 2 November 2014 | Singapore | [125] | ||
| 6 | 23 | 4:22.73 | Yui Ohashi | 10 November 2018 | Tokyo | [121] | |
| 7 | 24 | 4:22.88 | Kathryn Meaklim | 22 November 2009 | Singapore | [28] | |
| 25 | 4:22.94 | Hosszú #14 | 3 December 2014 | Doha | [32] | ||
| 8 | 4:22.97 | Ellen Walshe | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | [126] | ||
| 9 | 4:23.14 | Hannah Miley | 12 December 2012 | Istanbul | [127] | ||
| 10 | 4:23.33 | Ye Shiwen | 12 December 2012 | Istanbul | [127] | ||
| 11 | 4:23.68 | Sydney Pickrem | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | [128] | ||
| 12 | 4:24.15 | Melanie Margalis | United States | 20 December 2019 | Las Vegas | [129] | |
| 13 | 4:24.25 | Mary-Sophie Harvey | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | [126] | ||
| 14 | 4:24.31 | Dagny Knutson | United States | 18 December 2009 | Manchester | [29] | |
| 15 | 4:24.34 | Abbie Wood | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | [35] | ||
| 16 | 4:24.62 | Caitlin Leverenz | United States | 16 December 2011 | Atlanta | [130] | |
| 17 | 4:25.37 | Aimee Willmott | 15 December 2013 | Herning | [117] | ||
| 18 | 4:25.50 | Hali Flickinger | United States | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | [131] | |
| 19 | 4:25.55 | Tessa Cieplucha | 16 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | [132] | ||
| 20 | 4:25.56 | Elizabeth Beisel | United States | 3 December 2014 | Doha | [32] | |
| 21 | 4:25.61 | Zsuzsanna Jakabos | 25 November 2012 | Chartres | [133] | ||
| 22 | 4:26.06 | Alessia Filippi | 14 December 2008 | Rijeka | [27] | ||
| Ella Eastin | United States | 12 August 2017 | Eindhoven | [34] | |||
| 24 | 4:26.31 | Bailey Andison | 5 September 2021 | Naples | [134] | ||
| 25 | 4:26.41 | Fantine Lesaffre | 23 November 2019 | London | [135] |