View source for 400 metres

{{short description|Sprint running event}}
{{Infobox athletics event
| event = 400 metres
| image = 400m CIF San Diego Championship 2007.jpg
| image_upright= 1.25
| caption = The closing stages of a men's 400&nbsp;m race
| WRmen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA}} 43.03 (2016)}}
| ORmen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA}} 43.03 (2016)}}
| CRmen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}} 43.18 (1999)}}
| WRwomen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}} 47.60 (1985)}}
| ORwomen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Marileidy Paulino]]|DOM}} 48.17 (2024)}}
| CRwomen= {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}} 47.78 (2025)}}
|ShWRwomen={{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Femke Bol]]| NED}} 49.17 (2024)}}|ShWRmen={{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Kerron Clement]]| USA}} 44.57 (2005)}}|WU20Rmen={{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Steve Lewis (sprinter)|Steve Lewis]]|USA}} 43.87 (1988)}}|WU20Rwomen={{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Grit Breuer]]|GER}} 49.42 (1991)}}}}
The '''400 metres''', or '''400-meter dash''', is a sprint event in [[track and field]] competitions. It has been featured in the [[Sport of athletics|athletics]] programme at the [[Summer Olympics]] since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor [[running track]], it is one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many{{clarification needed|date=September 2023|reason=The word "many" should be clarified.}} countries, athletes previously competed in the [[440-yard dash]] (402.336&nbsp;m)—which is a quarter of a [[mile]] (1,760 [[yards]]) and was referred to as the "quarter-mile"—instead of the 400&nbsp;m (437.445&nbsp;yards), though this distance is now obsolete.

The current men's [[list of world records in athletics|world record]] and Olympic record is held by [[Wayde van Niekerk]] of [[South Africa]]; his time of 43.03 seconds is the fastest 400&nbsp;m ever run, in either an open 400&nbsp;m or a relay split (excluding reaction time). While Michael Johnson holds the fastest 400&nbsp;m relay split with a time of 42.94, relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg. Considering van Niekerk's reaction time of 0.181 seconds in his run of 43.03, van Niekerk covered the 400-metre distance itself in 42.85 seconds, therefore being 0.09 s faster than Johnson's relay split.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Škraba |first=Žiga P. |date=2016-08-15 |title=43.03 – The Fastest 400m in History |url=https://zigapskraba.com/2016/08/15/43-03-the-fastest-400m-in-history/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Žiga P. Škraba |language=en}}</ref>

[[Quincy Hall]] is the reigning men's Olympic champion. [[Antonio Watson]] is the current men's world champion. [[Kerron Clement]] is the men's world indoor record holder with a time of 44.57&nbsp;seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/sport/christopher-morales-williams-400m-indoor-record-spt-intl/index.html|title=Canadian teenager Christopher Morales Williams denied 400m indoor world record due to starting block issue|first=George|last=Ramsay|date=26 February 2024|website=CNN}}</ref> The current women's world record is held by [[Marita Koch]], with a time of 47.60&nbsp;seconds. [[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]] is the current women's world champion, holding the championship record of 47.78 seconds. [[Marileidy Paulino]] is the women’s Olympic champion, and holds the Olympic record in a time of 48.17 seconds. [[Femke Bol]] holds the women's world indoor record at 49.17 (2024). The men's [[T43 (classification)|T43]] Paralympic world record of 45.07&nbsp;seconds is held by [[Oscar Pistorius]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flightunit.com/uncategorized/who-oscar-pistorius-is/ |title=Who is Oscar Pistorius ??? « Flightunit : News, Tips, Music, video, games & more |access-date=2 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817032800/http://www.flightunit.com/uncategorized/who-oscar-pistorius-is/ |archive-date=17 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

An Olympic double of [[200&nbsp;metres]] and 400&nbsp;m was first achieved by [[Valerie Brisco-Hooks]] in 1984, and later by [[Marie-José Pérec]] of France and [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] from the United States on the same evening in 1996. [[Alberto Juantorena]] of Cuba at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400&nbsp;m and [[800 metres|800&nbsp;m]] Olympic titles. Pérec became the first to defend the Olympic title in 1996, Johnson became the first and only man to do so in 2000. From 31 appearances in the Olympic Games, the men's gold medalist came from the US 19 times (as of 2019).

== Sprint ==
Like other sprint disciplines, the 400&nbsp;m involves the use of [[starting blocks]]. The runners take up position in the blocks on the "ready" command, adopt a more efficient starting posture which [[Isometric exercise#Isometric presses as preparation for explosive power movements|isometrically preloads]] their muscles on the "set" command, and stride forwards from the blocks upon hearing the [[starter's pistol]]. The blocks allow the runners to begin more powerfully and thereby contribute to their overall sprint speed capability. Maximum sprint speed capability is a significant contributing factor to success in the event, but athletes also require substantial speed endurance and the ability to cope well with high amounts of [[lactic acid]] to sustain a fast speed over a whole lap. While considered to be predominantly an anaerobic event, there is some aerobic involvement and the degree of aerobic training required for 400-metre athletes is open to debate.<ref>[http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/csa/vol11/shepard.htm Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences], "Aerobic versus anaerobic training for success in various athletic events" by Shepard, R. J., 1978</ref>

==Continental records==
*Updated 18 September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/sprints/400-metres/outdoor/men |title=Men's outdoor 400 Metres {{!}} Records |website=worldathletics.org |publisher=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/sprints/400-metres/outdoor/women |title=Women's outdoor 400 Metres {{!}} Records |website=worldathletics.org |publisher=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!scope="col" rowspan="2" | Area
!scope="col" colspan="3" | Men
!scope="col" colspan="4" | Women
|-
!scope="col"| Time (s)
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Nation
!scope="col"| Time (s)
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Nation
|-
!scope="row"| [[Confederation of African Athletics|Africa]] {{small|(''[[List of African records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''43.03''' {{WR}}||[[Wayde van Niekerk]]||{{Flagu|South Africa}}||'''49.10'''||[[Falilat Ogunkoya]]||{{Flagu|Nigeria}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian Athletics Association|Asia]] {{small|(''[[List of Asian records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''43.93'''||[[Yousef Masrahi]]||{{Flagu|Saudi Arabia}}||'''48.14'''||[[Salwa Eid Naser]]||{{Flagu|Bahrain}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[European Athletic Association|Europe]] {{small|(''[[List of European records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''43.44'''||[[Matthew Hudson-Smith]]||{{Flagu|Great Britain}}||'''47.60''' {{WR}}||[[Marita Koch]]||{{Flagu|East Germany}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association|North, Central America<br /> and Caribbean]] {{small|(''[[List of North, Central American and Caribbean records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''43.18'''||[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]||{{Flagu|United States}}||'''47.78'''||[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]||{{Flagu|United States}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[Oceania Athletics Association|Oceania]] {{small|(''[[List of Oceanian records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''44.38'''||[[Darren Clark]]||{{Flagu|Australia}}||'''48.63'''||[[Cathy Freeman]]||{{Flagu|Australia}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[CONSUDATLE|South America]] {{small|(''[[List of South American records in athletics|records]]'')}}
|'''43.93'''||[[Anthony Zambrano]]||{{Flagu|Colombia}}||'''49.64'''||[[Ximena Restrepo]]||{{Flagu|Colombia}}
|}

==All-time top 25==
{| style="wikitable"
|Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 '''400&nbsp;m times''' and the top 25 '''athletes''':
|-
| style="background: #f6F5CE" |''- denotes top performance for '''athletes''' in the top 25 '''400&nbsp;m times'''''
|-
|''- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 '''400&nbsp;m times''', by repeat athletes''
|-
| style="background: #CCFFCC" |''- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 '''athletes''' who fall outside the top 25 400&nbsp;m times''
|}

===Men (outdoor)===
{{see also|Men's 400 metres world record progression}}

*Correct as of September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/400-metres/outdoor/men/senior |title=Senior Outdoor 400 Metres Men |website=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=All-time men's best 400m|url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_400ok.htm|publisher=alltime-athletics.com|date=8 January 2017|access-date=31 January 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}  
! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}} 
! Time (s) 
! Reaction (s) 
! Athlete 
! Nation 
! Date 
! Place 
! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|1 
| align=center|1 
| align=center|43.03 
| align=center|0.181 
| [[Wayde van Niekerk]] 
| {{RSA}} 
| 14 August 2016 
| [[Estádio Olímpico João Havelange|Rio de Janeiro]] 
| <ref name="2016Rio">{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Results |url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/A/T/ATM004101_Results_2016_08_14_ff3d0a74_10b4_4382_91f3_8783d2c9311c.pdf |work=Rio 2016 official website |date=14 August 2016 |access-date=15 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920130147/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/A/T/ATM004101_Results_2016_08_14_ff3d0a74_10b4_4382_91f3_8783d2c9311c.pdf |archive-date=20 September 2016 }}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|2 
| align=center|2 
| align=center|43.18 
| align=center|0.150 
| [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 26 August 1999 
| [[Estadio La Cartuja|Seville]] 
| <ref>{{cite web |title=400 Metres Result {{!}} 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/results/world-athletics-championships/1999/7th-iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics-6939522/men/400-metres/final/result |website=worldathletics.org |access-date=1 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|3 
| align=center|3 
| align=center|43.29 
| 
| [[Butch Reynolds]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 17 August 1988
| [[Letzigrund|Zürich]] 
| 
|-
|
| align=center|4 
| align=center|43.39 
| align=center| 
| ''Johnson #2''
| 
| 9 August 1995 
| [[Ullevi|Gothenburg]]
|
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|4
| align=center|5 
| align=center|43.40 
| align=center| 0.168
| [[Quincy Hall]]
| {{USA}} 
| 7 August 2024 
| [[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
| <ref name="400F2024OG" />
|-
|
| align=center|6 
| align=center|43.44 
| align=center | 
| ''Johnson #3'' 
| 
| 19 June 1996 
| [[Centennial Olympic Stadium|Atlanta]] 
| 
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|5
| align=center|6
| align=center|43.44
| align=center| 0.149
| [[Matthew Hudson-Smith]]
| {{GBR2}}
| 7 August 2024 
| [[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
| <ref name="400F2024OG">{{cite web |title=Men's 400m - Final results |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73B1_ATHM400M--------------FNL-000100--.pdf |website=Olympics |access-date=8 August 2024 |date=7 August 2024}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| rowspan="2" align=center|6
| rowspan="2" align=center|8 
| rowspan="2" align=center|43.45 
| align=center|0.182 
| [[Jeremy Wariner]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 31 August 2007 
| [[Yanmar Stadium Nagai|Osaka]] 
| <ref>{{cite web |title=400 Metres Result {{!}} 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/results/world-athletics-championships/2007/11th-iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics-6903480/men/400-metres/final/result |website=worldathletics.org |access-date=1 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center| 
| [[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]
| {{USA}} 
| 20 April 2019 
| [[Murdock Stadium|Torrance]] 
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtspt.com/events/mtsac/2019/190418F105.htm |title=61st ANNUAL MT. SAC RELAYS |website=rtspt.com |publisher=RecordTiming |date=20 April 2019 |access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 
| align=center|10 
| align=center|43.48 
| align=center|0.156 
| ''van Niekerk #2'' 
| 
| 26 August 2015 
| [[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]] 
| <ref>{{cite web |title=400 Metres Result {{!}} 15th IAAF World Championships |url=https://worldathletics.org/results/world-athletics-championships/2015/15th-iaaf-world-championships-7078726/men/400-metres/final/result |website=worldathletics.org |access-date=1 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|8 
| align=center|11 
| align=center|43.48 
| align=center|0.164 
| [[Steven Gardiner]] 
| {{BHS}} 
| 4 October 2019 
| [[Doha]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-400-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=-722740224|publisher=IAAF|date=4 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=400 Metres Result {{!}} IAAF World Athletics Championships, DOHA 2019 |url=https://worldathletics.org/results/world-athletics-championships/2019/iaaf-world-athletics-championships-doha-2019-7125365/men/400-metres/final/result |website=worldathletics.org |access-date=1 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 
| align=center|12 
| align=center|43.49 
| align=center|
| ''Johnson #4'' 
| 
| 29 July 1996 
| [[Centennial Olympic Stadium|Atlanta]] 
| 
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|9 
| align=center|13 
| align=center|43.50 
| 
| [[Quincy Watts]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 5 August 1992 
| [[Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc|Barcelona]] 
| 
|-
|
| align=center|14 
| align=center|43.50 
| 
| ''Wariner #2'' 
|
| 7 August 2007
| [[Stockholm Olympic Stadium|Stockholm]] 
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|10
| align=center|15
| align="center" |43.53
| align="center" |0.134
|[[Collen Kebinatshipi]]
|{{BWA}}
|18 September 2025
|[[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-400-M-f----.RS6.pdf|website=World Athletics|date=18 September 2025|access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" |
| align=center|16
| align=center|43.56
|
| ''Norman #2''
| rowspan="6"|
| 25 June 2022
| [[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
| <ref name="auto5">{{cite news|title=McLaughlin breaks world 400m hurdles record with 51.41 at US Championships|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/us-championships-mclaughlin-world-record-400-hurdles|publisher=World Athletics|author=Karen Rosen|date=26 June 2022|access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|17
| align=center|43.60 
| align=center|0.130 
| ''Norman #3''
| 28 May 2022 
| [[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
| <ref>{{cite news|title=Norman reigns in fierce 400m clash with record run in Eugene|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/norman-kipyegon-crouser-eugene-prefontaine-classic|publisher=World Athletics|author=Cathal Dennehy|date=29 May 2022|access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wanda Diamond League Hayward Field - Eugene, OR (USA) 27th - 28th May 2022 Results 400m Men |url=https://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2022/eugene/re0040040.pdf |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|18
| align=center|43.61 
| 
| ''Norman #4''
| 8 June 2018 
| [[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
|
|-
| align=center|19
| align="center" |43.61
| align="center" |0.145
| ''Kebinatshipi #2''
|16 September 2025
|[[Tokyo]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Semi-Final Results Summary|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-400-M-sf----.RS4.pdf|website=World Athletics|date=16 September 2025|access-date=16 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |20
| rowspan="2" align="center" |43.62 
|
| ''Wariner #3'' 
| 14 July 2006 
| [[Stadio Olimpico|Rome]] 
|
|-
| align=center|0.164 
| ''van Niekerk #3'' 
| 6 July 2017 
| [[Stade olympique de la Pontaise|Lausanne]] 
| <ref>{{cite web |title=IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE Lausanne (SUI) 6 July 2017 Results 400m Men |url=https://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2017/lausanne/re0040040.pdf |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|11 
| align=center|22
| align=center|43.64 
| align=center| 
| [[Fred Kerley]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 27 July 2019 
| [[Drake Stadium (Drake University)|Des Moines]] 
| <ref>{{cite news|title=Kendricks tops 6.06m in Des Moines|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/sam-kendricks-pole-vault-606m|publisher=IAAF|author=Roy Jordan|date=28 July 2019|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 
| align=center|23
| align=center|43.65 
| align=center| 
| ''Johnson #5'' 
| 
| 17 August 1993 
| [[Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion|Stuttgart]] 
| 
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|12 
| align=center|24
| align=center|43.65 
| align=center|0.195 
| [[LaShawn Merritt]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 26 August 2015 
| [[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/15th-iaaf-world-championships-4875/results/men/400-metres/final/result#resultheader|publisher=IAAF|date=26 August 2015|access-date=26 August 2015}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan=2 align=center|25
| rowspan="2" align=center|43.66 
| 
| ''Johnson #6'' 
| rowspan="2" |
| 16 June 1995 
| [[Sacramento]] 
| 
|-
|
| ''Johnson #7'' 
| 3 July 1996 
| [[Stade olympique de la Pontaise|Lausanne]] 
| 
|-bgcolor=#CCFFCC
| align=center|13
| rowspan="15" align=center|
| align=center|43.70
|
| [[Champion Allison]]
| {{USA}}
| 25 June 2022
| [[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
| <ref name="auto5"/>
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
| rowspan="2" align=center|14 
| rowspan="2" align=center|43.72
|
| [[Isaac Makwala]] 
| {{BWA}} 
| 5 July 2015 
| [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results |url=http://www.sep-olympic.ch/resisprintdoc/400m3.pdf |publisher=www.sep-olympic.ch |date=5 July 2015 |access-date=5 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714102404/http://www.sep-olympic.ch/resisprintdoc/400m3.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2015 }}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|0.145
| [[Jereem Richards]]
| {{TTO}}
| 18 September 2025
| [[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-400-M-f----.RS6.pdf|website=World Athletics|date=18 September 2025|access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
| rowspan="2" align=center|16
| rowspan="2" align=center|43.74
| 
| [[Kirani James]] 
| {{GRN}} 
| 3 July 2014 
| [[Stade olympique de la Pontaise|Lausanne]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamondleague-lausanne.com/en/Live-StartlistsResults/Overview/400m/ |title=400m |access-date=2014-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708001133/http://www.diamondleague-lausanne.com/en/Live-StartlistsResults/Overview/400m/ |archive-date=8 July 2014 }}</ref>
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
| align=center|0.185
| [[Muzala Samukonga]]
| {{ZAM}}
| 7 August 2024
| [[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name="400F2024OG" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|18
| align=center|43.76 {{AthAbbr|A}}
|
| [[Zakithi Nene]]
| {{RSA}} 
| 31 May 2025
| [[Nairobi]] 
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Nene smashes 44-second barrier in Nairobi|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/news/zkithi-nene-kip-keino-classic-2025|website=World Athletics|author=Justin Lagat|date=31 May 2025|access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|19
| align=center|43.81 
| 
| [[Danny Everett]]
| {{USA}} 
| 26 June 1992 
| [[Tad Gormley Stadium|New Orleans]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan=2 align=center|20
| rowspan=2 align=center|43.85 
|
| [[Randolph Ross]]
| {{USA}} 
| 11 June 2021 
| [[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
| <ref>{{cite news|title=Burrell breaks world U20 400m hurdles record in Eugene|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/burrell-world-u20-400m-hurdles-record-eugene|publisher=World Athletics|author=Jess Whittington|date=12 June 2021|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|align=center|0.158
| [[Jacory Patterson]]
| {{USA}} 
| 28 August 2025
| [[Zurich]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://ath-wdl-archive.azureedge.net/2025/zurich/ATHM400M----DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1_1.0.PDF|website=azureedge.net|date=28 August 2025|access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|22
| align=center|43.86 {{AthAbbr|A}}
|
| [[Lee Evans (sprinter)|Lee Evans]]
| {{USA}} 
| 18 October 1968 
| [[Estadio Olímpico Universitario|Mexico City]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|23
| align=center|43.87 
|
| [[Steve Lewis (sprinter)|Steve Lewis]] 
| {{USA}} 
| 28 September 1988 
| [[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]] 
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align=center|24
| align=center|43.91
|
| [[Khaleb McRae]]
| {{USA}} 
| 22 June 2025
| [[London, Ontario|London]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7218305?eventId=10229631&gender=M|website=World Athletics|access-date=3 July 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="3" align=center|25
| rowspan="3" align=center|43.93
| 
| [[Yousef Masrahi]] 
| {{KSA}} 
| 23 August 2015 
| [[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]] 
| <ref name="2015Beijing">{{cite web|title=400m Men - Heats Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/15th-iaaf-world-championships-4875/results/men/400-metres/heats/result#resultheader|publisher=IAAF|date=23 August 2015|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|
| [[Rusheen McDonald]] 
| {{JAM}} 
| 23 August 2015 
| [[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]] 
| <ref name="2015Beijing" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|
| [[Anthony Zambrano]] 
| {{COL}} 
| 2 August 2021 
| [[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]] 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Semifinal Results Summary|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/ATH/OG2020-_ATH_C74A_ATHM400M--------------SFNL--------.pdf|website=olympics.com|date=2 August 2021|access-date=17 August 2021|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009132117/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/ATH/OG2020-_ATH_C74A_ATHM400M--------------SFNL--------.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

===Women (outdoor)===
{{see also|Women's 400 metres world record progression}}
*Correct as of September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/400-metres/outdoor/women/senior |title=Toplists – All time Top lists – Senior Outdoor 400 Metres Women |website=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=All-time women's best 400m|url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_400ok.htm|publisher=alltime-athletics.com|date=26 November 2016|access-date=31 January 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}  !! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}} !! Time (s) !! Reaction (s) !! Athlete !! Nation !! Date !! Place !! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|1 || align=center|1 || align=center|47.60 || align=center| || [[Marita Koch]] || {{GDR}} || 6 October 1985 || [[Canberra]] || 
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |47.78
| align="center" | 0.171
|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]
|{{USA}}
|18 September 2025
|[[Tokyo]]
|<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09">{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-400-W-f----.RS6.pdf|website=World Athletics|date=18 September 2025|access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |47.98
| align="center" | 0.183
|[[Marileidy Paulino]]
|{{DOM}}
|18 September 2025
|[[Tokyo]]
|<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09"/>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |4 || align="center" |4 || align="center" |47.99 || align="center"| || [[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|| {{TCH}} || 10 August 1983 || [[Helsinki]]||
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |5 || align="center" |5 || align="center" |48.14 || align="center"|0.186 || [[Salwa Eid Naser]] || {{BHR}} || 3 October 2019 || [[Doha]] || <ref name="WC2019">{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-400-W-f----.RS6.pdf?v=-1140553021|publisher=IAAF|date=3 October 2019|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" | || rowspan="2" align="center" |6 || rowspan="2" align="center" |48.16 ||align="center"| || ''Koch #2'' || rowspan="5" | || 8 September 1982 || [[Athens]] ||
|-
| align="center"| ||''Koch #3'' || 16 August 1984 || [[Prague]] ||  
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|48.17
|align="center"| 
|''Paulino #2''
|9 August 2024
|[[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Paulino powers to Olympic record to win 400m gold in Paris {{!}} News {{!}} Paris 24 {{!}} Olympic Games |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris24/news/article/paris-2024-olympics-report-women-400m |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |9
| align="center" |48.19
| align="center"|0.189
|''Naser #2''
|18 September 2025
|[[Tokyo]]
|<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09"/>
|-
| align="center" |10 || align="center" |48.22 ||align="center"| || ''Koch #4''|| 28 August 1986 || [[Stuttgart]]||
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |6 || align="center" |11 || align="center" |48.25 ||align="center"| || [[Marie-José Pérec]]|| {{FRA}} || 29 July 1996 || [[Atlanta]]||
|-
| || align="center" |12 || align="center" |48.26 ||align="center"| || ''Koch #5''|| || 27 July 1984 || [[Dresden]]||
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |7 || align="center" |13 || align="center" |48.27 ||align="center"| || [[Olga Bryzgina]]|| {{URS}} || 6 October 1985 || [[Canberra]]||
|- 
| align="center" |
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |48.29
|align="center"| 
|''McLaughlin-Levrone #2''
|
|16 September 2025
|[[Tokyo]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Semi-Final Results Summary|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-400-W-sf----.RS4.pdf|website=World Athletics|date=16 September 2025|access-date=16 September 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |8 || align="center" |15 || align="center" |48.36 ||align="center"| || [[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]|| {{BHS}} || 6 August 2021 || [[Tokyo]]||
|-
| rowspan="3" | || align="center" |16 || align="center" |48.37 ||align="center"|0.145 || ''Miller-Uibo #2''|| rowspan="3" | || 3 October 2019 || [[Doha]] ||
|-
| align="center" |17 || align="center" |48.45 ||align="center"| || ''Kratochvílová #2''|| 23 July 1983 || [[Prague]]||
|-
| align="center" |18
| align="center" |48.53
| align="center"| 
|''Naser #3''
|9 August 2024
|[[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name=":3" />
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |9 || align="center" |19 || align="center" |48.57 ||align="center"| || [[Nickisha Pryce]]|| {{JAM}} || 20 July 2024 || [[London Stadium|London]]|| <ref name="auto6">{{cite web|title=400m Result|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/LONDON_2024/PDF_ATHW400M----DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=gKBjauemwxjKQXjcwwRfD+dG7dU=|website=swisstiming.com|date=20 July 2024|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |10 || align="center" |20 || align="center" |48.59 ||align="center"| || [[Taťána Kocembová]]|| {{TCH}} || 10 August 1983 || [[Helsinki]]||
|-
| rowspan="3" | || rowspan="2" align="center" |21 || rowspan="2" align="center" |48.60 ||align="center"| || ''Koch #6'' || rowspan="3" | || 4 August 1979 || [[Turin]] ||
|-
| align="center"| ||''Bryzgina #2'' || 17 August 1985 || [[Moscow]] ||  
|-
| align=center|23 || align="center" |48.61 ||align="center"| || ''Kratochvílová #3'' || 6 September 1981 || [[Rome]] ||
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align=center|11 || align="center" |24 || align="center" |48.63 ||align="center"| || [[Cathy Freeman]] || {{AUS}} || 29 July 1996 || [[Atlanta]] || 
|-
| || align=center|25 || align="center" |48.65 ||align="center"| || ''Bryzgina #3'' || || 26 September 1988 || [[Seoul]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |12 || rowspan="14" align="center" | || align="center" |48.70 ||align="center"| || [[Sanya Richards-Ross]] || {{USA}} || 16 September 2006 || [[Athens]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |13 || align="center" |48.83 ||align="center"| || [[Valerie Brisco-Hooks]]|| {{USA}} || 6 August 1984 || [[Los Angeles]]||
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
| align="center" |14 || align="center" |48.89 ||align="center"| || [[Ana Guevara]] || {{MEX}} || 27 August 2003 || [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]] || 
|-bgcolor=#CCFFCC
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |48.90
|align="center"| 
|[[Natalia Kaczmarek]]
|{{POL}}
|20 July 2024
|[[London Stadium|London]]
|<ref name="auto6"/>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |16 || align="center" |49.05 ||align="center"| || [[Chandra Cheeseborough]] || {{USA}} || 6 August 1984 || [[Los Angeles]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |17 || rowspan="2" align="center" |49.07 ||align="center"| || [[Tonique Williams-Darling]] || {{BHS}} || 12 September 2004 || [[Berlin]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|align="center"| 
|[[Rhasidat Adeleke]]
|{{Flag|Ireland}}
|10 June 2024
|[[Rome]]
|<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7158244?eventId=10229511&gender=W|website=World Athletics|access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|align="center" |19
|align="center" |49.09 ||align="center"|0.200 || [[Aaliyah Butler]] || {{USA}} || 11 July 2025 || [[Monaco]] || <ref>{{cite web|title=400m Results|url=https://ath-wdl-archive.azureedge.net/2025/monaco/ATHW400M----DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1_1.0.PDF|website=azureedge.net|date=11 July 2025|access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |20 || align="center" |49.10 ||align="center"| || [[Falilat Ogunkoya]] || {{NGA}} || 29 July 1996 || [[Atlanta]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |21 || align="center" |49.11 ||align="center"| || [[Olga Nazarova]] || {{URS}} || 25 September 1988 || [[Seoul]] ||
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |22
| rowspan="2" align="center" |49.13
|align="center"| 
|[[Britton Wilson]]
|{{USA}}
|13 May 2023
|[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilson clocks 49.13 for 400m, Hibbert breaks world U20 triple jump record with 17.87m {{!}} REPORT {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/britton-wilson-4913-jaydon-hibbert-u20-triple-jump-record-1787 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=worldathletics.org}}</ref>
|-bgcolor=#CCFFCC
|align="center"| 
|[[Kaylyn Brown]]
|{{USA}}
|8 June 2024
|[[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Pryce, Long and Jones impress in sprints at NCAA Championships {{!}} REPORT {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/ncaa-championships-2024-pryce-long-jones-valby |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=worldathletics.org}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |24 || align="center" |49.14 ||align="center"| || [[Gabrielle Thomas]] || {{USA}} || 5 April 2025 || [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] || <ref>{{cite web|title=First four Grand Slam Track champions crowned in Kingston|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/bednarek-hudson-smith-thomas-welteji-kingston-grand-slam-track|website=World Athletics|author=Noel Francis|date=6 April 2025|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |25 || align="center" |49.16 ||align="center"| || [[Antonina Krivoshapka]] || {{RUS}} || 5 July 2012 || [[Cheboksary]]||
|}

====Annulled marks====
*[[Christine Mboma]] ran 48.54 in [[Bydgoszcz]] on 30 June 2021, but her performance was removed from the World Athletics database due to [[testosterone regulations in women's athletics]].

===Men (indoor)===
*Correct as of September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/400-metres/indoor/men/senior |title=Toplists - All time Top lists - Senior Indoor 400 Metres Men |publisher=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!{{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}
!{{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}
!Time (s)
!Athlete
!Nation
!Date
!Place
!{{refh}}
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |44.49
|[[Christopher Morales Williams]]
|{{flagu|Canada}}
|24 February 2024
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Men 400m Result |url=https://flashresults.com/2024_Meets/Indoor/02-23_SEC/023-2_compiled.htm |access-date=24 February 2024 |website=flashresults.com}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |44.52
|[[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|10 March 2018
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |3
|align="center" |3
|align="center" |44.57
|[[Kerron Clement]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|12 March 2005
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |44.62
|[[Randolph Ross]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|12 March 2022
|[[Birmingham CrossPlex|Birmingham]]
|<ref name=":7">{{cite web |date=12 March 2022 |title=400m Result |url=https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Indoor/2022/003-2.pdf |access-date=14 March 2022 |publisher=Flash Results}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |5
|align="center" |5
|align="center" |44.63
|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|4 March 1995
|[[Georgia Dome|Atlanta]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2" |
|align="center" |6
|align="center" |44.66
|''Johnson #2''
| rowspan="2" |
|2 March 1996
|[[Georgia Dome|Atlanta]]
|
|-
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |44.67
|''Morales Williams #2''
|7 March 2024
|[[Boston]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |6
|align="center" |8
|align="center" |44.71
|[[Noah Williams (sprinter)|Noah Williams]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|13 March 2021
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|<ref name="2021 NCAA Indoor">{{cite web |date=13 March 2021 |title=Results: Men 400 M (Finals) |url=https://dt8v5llb2dwhs.cloudfront.net/Indoor/2021/003-2_compiled.htm |access-date=13 March 2021 |publisher=Flash Results}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |9
|align="center" |44.75
|[[Elija Godwin]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|25 February 2023
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |date=25 February 2023 |title=400m Result |url=https://results.flashresults.com/2023_02-24_SEC/023-2.pdf |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=flashresults.com}}</ref>
|-
|
|align="center" |10
|align="center" |44.75 {{AthAbbr|A}}
|''Godwin #2''
|
|11 March 2023
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Alfred, Garland and Wilson threaten world records at NCAA Indoor Championships {{!}} REPORT {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/ncaa-indoor-championships-alfred-garland-wilson-records |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.worldathletics.org}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |8
|align="center" |11
|align="center" |44.80
|[[Kirani James]]
|{{Flagu|Grenada}}
|27 February 2011
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |9
|align="center" |12
|align="center" |44.82
|[[Tyrell Richard]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|9 March 2019
|[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]
|<ref name="400m Results">{{cite web |date=9 March 2019 |title=400m Results |url=https://www.flashresults.com/2019_Meets/Indoor/03-08_NCAA/003-2_compiled.htm |access-date=10 March 2019 |work=flashresults.com}}</ref>
|-
|
|align="center" |13
|align="center" |44.83
|''Ross #2''
|
|11 February 2022
|[[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |10
|align="center" |14
|align="center" |44.85
|[[Fred Kerley]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|11 March 2017
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |11
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |44.86
|[[Akeem Bloomfield]]
|{{Flagu|Jamaica}}
|10 March 2018
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |12
|align="center" |16
|align="center" |44.88
|[[Bralon Taplin]]
|{{Flagu|Grenada}}
|3 February 2018
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |13
|align="center" |17
|align="center" |44.91
|[[Auhmad Robinson]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|9 March 2024
|[[Boston]]
|<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Men 400 M |url=https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Indoor/2024/003-2_compiled.htm |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=flashresults.ncaa.com}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |14
| rowspan="2" align="center" |18
|align="center" |44.93
|[[LaShawn Merritt]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|11 February 2005
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |44.93 {{AthAbbr|A}}
|[[Ryan Willie]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|11 March 2023
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]
|<ref name=":9">{{cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=400m Result |url=https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Indoor/2023/003-2.pdf |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=Flash Results}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" |
|align="center" |20
|align="center" |44.94
|''Kerley #2''
| rowspan="4" |
|25 February 2017
|[[Nashville]]
|
|-
|align="center" |21
|align="center" |44.97
|''Johnson #3''
|10 February 1995
|[[Reno, Nevada|Reno]]
|
|-
|align="center" |22
|align="center" |44.99
|''Ross #3''
|13 March 2021
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|-
|align="center" |23
|align="center" |45.00
|''Norman #2''
|9 February 2018
|[[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |16
|align="center" |23
|align="center" |45.00
|[[Jereem Richards]]
|{{flagu|Trinidad and Tobago}}
|19 March 2022
|[[Štark Arena|Belgrade]]
|<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=19 March 2022 |title=400m Results |url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7138985/AT-400-M-f----.RS6.pdf |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=World Athletics}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |17
|align="center" |25
|align="center" |45.02
|[[Danny Everett]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|2 February 1992
|[[Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle|Stuttgart]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |
|align="center" rowspan="2" |25
| align="center" rowspan="2" |45.02
|''Kerley #3''
| rowspan="2" |
|10 February 2017
|[[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]]
|
|-
|''Bloomfield #2''
|9 February 2018
|[[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |17
|align="center" |25
|align="center" |45.02
|[[Khaleb McCrae]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|3 February 2024
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" rowspan="3" |19
| rowspan="9" |
| align="center" rowspan="3" |45.03
|[[Torrin Lawrence]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|12 February 2010
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Deon Lendore]]
|{{Flagu|Trinidad and Tobago}}
|1 March 2014
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Kahmari Montgomery]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|9 March 2019
|[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]
|<ref name="400m Results" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|align="center"|22
|align="center"|45.04
|[[Champion Allison]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|26 February 2022
|[[Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium|College Station]]
|<ref name=":10">{{cite web |date=26 February 2022 |title=400m Result |url=https://results.flashresults.com/2022_02-25_SEC/023-2.pdf |access-date=27 February 2022 |work=flashresults.com}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" rowspan="5" |23
| align="center" rowspan="5" |45.05
|[[Thomas Schönlebe]]
|{{flagu|East Germany}}
|5 February 1988
|[[Sindelfingen]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Alvin Harrison]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|28 February 1998
|[[Atlanta]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Karsten Warholm]]
|{{flagu|Norway}}
|2 March 2019
|[[Glasgow]]
|<ref name=":11">{{cite web |date=2 March 2019 |title=400m Final Results |url=https://www.european-athletics.org/externalmodules/AT/pdf/ATM004101_C73A.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323034601/https://www.european-athletics.org/externalmodules/AT/pdf/ATM004101_C73A.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019 |publisher=[[European Athletic Association|EAA]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Trevor Bassitt]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|19 March 2022
|[[Belgrade]]
|<ref name="auto1" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Jacory Patterson]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|25 February 2023
|[[Randal Tyson Track Center|Fayetteville]]
|
|}
*

===Women (indoor)===
*Correct as of March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/400-metres/indoor/women/senior |title=Senior Indoor 400 Metres Women |website=iaaf.org |publisher=[[IAAF]] |access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!{{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}
!{{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}
!Time (s)
!Athlete
!Nation
!Date
!Place
!{{refh}}
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |49.17
|[[Femke Bol]]
|{{Flagu|Netherlands}}
|2 March 2024
|[[Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome|Glasgow]]
|<ref name="auto3">{{cite web |date=2 March 2024 |title=400m Final Result |url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7180312/AT-400sh-W-f----.RS6.pdf |access-date=2 March 2024 |work=World Athletics}}</ref>
|-
|
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |49.24
|''Bol #2''
|
|17 February 2024
|[[Omnisport Apeldoorn|Apeldoorn]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2024 |title=Bol breaks world indoor 400m record with 49.24 in Apeldoorn |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/femke-bol-world-indoor-400m-record-apeldoorn-2024 |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |49.24
|[[Isabella Whittaker]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|15 March 2025
|[[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]]
|<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Emerole |first=Anderson |date=16 March 2025 |title=Whittaker goes No.2 all time to win NCAA indoor 400m title |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/ncaa-indoor-championships-2025-virginia-beach-400m-isabella-whittaker |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-
|
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |49.26
|''Bol #3''
|
|19 February 2023
|[[Omnisport Apeldoorn|Apeldoorn]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 February 2023 |title=Bol breaks world indoor 400m record with 49.26 in Apeldoorn |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/femke-bol-world-indoor-400m-record-apeldoorn |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |49.48 {{AthAbbr|A}}
|[[Britton Wilson]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|11 March 2023
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |6
| align="center" |49.59
|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]
|{{Flagu|Czechoslovakia}}
|7 March 1982
|[[Milan]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| align="center" |7
| align="center" |49.63
|''Bol #4''
| rowspan="2" |
|10 February 2024
|[[Liévin]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Steven |date=10 February 2024 |title=49.63 for Bol and 22.37m for Fabbri light up Lievin |url=https://www.european-athletics.com/news/49-63-for-bol-and-22-37m-for-fabbri-light-up-lievin |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=[[European Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |49.64
|''Kratochvílová #2''
|28 January 1981
|[[Vienna]]
|
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |9
| align="center" |49.68
|[[Natalya Nazarova]]
|{{Flagu|Russia}}
|18 February 2004
|[[Moscow]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" align="center" |10
| rowspan="2" align="center" |49.69
|''Kratochvílová #3''
| rowspan="2" |
|6 March 1983
|[[Budapest]]
|
|-
|''Bol #5''
|1 February 2024
|[[Metz]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Steven |date=3 February 2024 |title=Bol launches season with a 22.64/49.69 double in Metz |url=https://www.european-athletics.com/news/bol-launches-season-with-a-22-64-49-69-double-in-metz |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=[[European Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |6
|align="center" |12
|align="center" |49.76
|[[Taťána Kocembová]]
|{{Flagu|Czechoslovakia}}
|2 February 1984
|[[Vienna]]
|
|-bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |13
|align="center" |49.78
|[[Aaliyah Butler]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|1 March 2025
|[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]
|<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=1 March 2025 |title=2025 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship Results |url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7221837?eventId=10229577&gender=W |access-date=2 March 2025 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="7" |
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |49.85
|''Bol #6''
| rowspan="7" |
|4 March 2023
|[[Istanbul]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dennehy |first=Cathal |date=4 March 2023 |title=Bol and Warholm claim European indoor 400m crowns in Istanbul |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/istanbul-european-indoor-championships-bol-warholm-400m |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |15
|align="center" |49.90
|''Whittaker #2''
|1 March 2025
|[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]
|<ref name=":5" />
|-
| align="center" |16
| align="center" |49.96
|''Bol #7''
|11 February 2023
|[[Metz]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2023 |title=Bol clocks 49.96 and 22.87 in Metz, Bromell breezes to 6.42 in Clemson |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/news/femke-bol-4996-metz-bromell-642 |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |17
| rowspan="2" align="center" |49.97
|''Kocembová #2''
|4 March 1984
|[[Gothenburg]]
|
|-
|''Butler #2''
|15 March 2025
|[[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]]
|<ref name=":12" />
|-
| align="center" |19
| align="center" |49.98
|''Nazarova #2''
|18 February 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|-
| align="center" |20
| align="center" |50.00
|''Kratochvílová #4''
|10 February 1983
|[[Vienna]]
|
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |21
| align="center" |50.01
|[[Sabine Busch]]
|{{flagu|East Germany}}
|2 February 1984
|[[Vienna]]
|
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |9
| align="center" |22
| align="center" |50.02
|[[Nicola Sanders]]
|{{Flagu|Great Britain}}
|3 March 2007
|[[Birmingham]]
|
|- bgcolor="#f6F5CE"
| align="center" |10
| align="center" |23
| align="center" |50.04
|[[Olesya Krasnomovets]]
|{{Flagu|Russia}}
|18 February 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| align="center" |24
| align="center" |50.04
|''Krasnomovets #2''
| rowspan="2" |
|12 March 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|-
| align="center" |25
| align="center" |50.07
|''Kratochvílová #5''
|22 February 1981
|[[Grenoble]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |11
| rowspan="15" align="center" |
| align="center" |50.10
|[[Lieke Klaver]]
|{{flagu|Netherlands}}
|18 February 2024
|[[Omnisport Apeldoorn|Apeldoorn]]
|<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=18 February 2024 |title=FLASH: Bol breaks world indoor 400m record with 49.24 in Apeldoorn |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/femke-bol-world-indoor-400m-record-apeldoorn-2024 |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |12
| rowspan="2" align="center" |50.15
|[[Olga Zaytseva]]
|{{Flagu|Russia}}
|25 January 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Talitha Diggs]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|25 February 2023
|[[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]]
|<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web |date=25 February 2023 |title=Weekend Recap: All-Time Marks Canvas Conference Championships Weekend |url=https://www.ustfccca.org/2023/02/featured/weekend-recap-all-time-marks-canvas-conference-championships-weekend |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=[[U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association|USTFCCCA]] |language=en}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |14
| rowspan="2" align="center" |50.21
|[[Vania Stambolova]]
|{{Flagu|Bulgaria}}
|12 March 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]
|{{flagu|Bahamas}}
|13 February 2021
|[[New York City]]
|<ref name=":4">{{cite news |author=Taylor Dutch |date=14 February 2021 |title=Three American Records and 10 National Records Fall at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a35499064/new-balance-indoor-grand-prix-results/ |access-date=23 February 2021 |website=runnersworld.com}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |16
| align="center" |50.23
|[[Irina Privalova]]
|{{Flagu|Russia}}
|12 March 1995
|[[Barcelona]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |17
| align="center" |50.24
|[[Alexis Holmes]]
|{{Flagu|United States}}
|2 March 2024
|[[Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome|Glasgow]]
|<ref name="auto3" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |18
| align="center" |50.28
|[[Petra Schersing|Petra Müller]]
|{{flagu|East Germany}}
|6 March 1988
|[[Budapest]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |19
| align="center" |50.33
|[[Rhasidat Adeleke]]
|{{flagu|Ireland}}
|25 February 2023
|[[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]
|<ref name="auto4" />
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| rowspan="2" align="center" |20
| rowspan="2" align="center" |50.34
|[[Christine Amertil]]
|{{flagu|Bahamas}}
|12 March 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[Kendall Ellis]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|10 March 2018
|[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |22
| align="center" |50.36
|[[Sydney McLaughlin]]
|{{flagu|United States}}
|10 March 2018
|[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |23
| align="center" |50.37
|[[Natalya Antyukh]]
|{{flagu|Russia}}
|18 February 2006
|[[Moscow]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |24
| align="center" |50.40
|[[Dagmar Neubauer]]
|{{flagu|East Germany}}
|2 February 1984
|[[Vienna]]
|
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| align="center" |25
| align="center" |50.41
|[[Svetlana Pospelova]]
|{{flagu|Russia}}
|5 March 2005
|[[Madrid]]
|
|}

==Fastest relay splits==

===Men===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Split {{ref|split|A}}
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Leg
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Event
!scope="col"| Place
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"| 42.94 {{ref|johnson|B}}
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
|L4
|22 August 1993
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[MHPArena|Stuttgart]]
| <ref name=oreg22stutt93>{{cite book|date=11 July 2022|title=World Athletics Championships Oregon22 Statistics Handbook|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Mark|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|others=[[Association of Track and Field Statisticians]]|pages=254-255|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>
<!-- |-
!scope="row"| 42.93
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
|{{nowrap|2 September}} 2007
|[[Osaka]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/disciplines/relays/4x400-metres-relay|title=4x400 Metres Relay Icons|access-date=10 June 2018|quote=Jeremy Wariner: The two-time world 400m champion was a key member of the USA 4x400m squad in the 2000s, picking up two Olympic relay golds and three world titles. He also boasts the second-fastest relay split in history with his 42.93 from the 2007 World Championships.}}</ref>

The url has expired and World Athletics' 2022 Statistics Handbook gives Wariner a split time of 43.10 in that race-->
|-
!scope="row"| 43.04
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Letsile Tebogo]]|BOT}}
|L4
|10 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name="auto7">{{cite web|title=Men's 4 x 400m Relay Results|work=olympics.com|date=10 August 2024|access-date=17 August 2024|url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73D_ATHM4X400M------------FNL-000100--.pdf}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.06
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]|USA}}
|L4
|27 May 2018
| [[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA West Prelims]]
|[[Hornet Stadium (Sacramento)|Sacramento]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Men's 4×400m Relay Results|url=https://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/external/track-field/results/d1/outdoor18/West/012-1-02.htm|work=ncaa.com|date=27 May 2018|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.09
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Matthew Hudson-Smith]]|GBR}}
|L4
|10 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name="auto7"/>
|-
!scope="row" | 43.10
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
|L4
|2 September 2007
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Nagai Stadium|Osaka]]
| <ref>{{cite book|date=11 July 2022|title=World Athletics Championships Oregon22 Statistics Handbook|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Mark|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|others=[[Association of Track and Field Statisticians]]|pages=259|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" | 43.1
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Quincy Watts]]|USA}}
|L2
|8 August 1992
| [[1992 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys|Barcelona]]
|<ref name=allathmen>Peter Larsson & Francois Lorange, [https://www.alltime-athletics.com/m4x400ok.htm All-time Men's best 4x400m relay]</ref>
<!--|-
As of 21 Sept 2025, the official results for the 2025 world championships 4x400 m men's heat 1, show a split time of 43.11 for Christopher Bailey's who started for the US team. This would be a comfortable world record for a starter (Danny Everett in Seoul in 1988 is next with 43.79). Demarius Smith, who ran after him, has a split time of 48.17, which is exceptionally slow, even allowing for a ~1 sec delay caused by Zambian interference at the next exchange. Moreover, footage shows that the baton handovers of the American and South African teams at the first exchange were simultaneous and not 1.2 seconds apart as the recorded split time of 44.30 seconds for the South African starter (Gardeo Isaac) suggests. In other words, Bailey's split time is unlikely to be accurate and should not be included. Also, due to the interference, the American team's time was officially replaced by their better results from heat 3.
!scope="row"| 43.11
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Christopher Bailey (runner)|Christopher Bailey]]|USA}}
|L1
|20 September 2025
|[[2025 World Athletics Championships|World Championships]]
|[[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
|style="text-align:center"|<refname=Tokyo25Heats>"[https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-4X4-M-h----.RS6.pdf World Athletics Championships Tokyo'25 - Men's 4X400m Relay - Heat 1 (revised)]", World Athletics, 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref> -->
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="3"| 43.18
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
|L4
|23 August 2008
|[[2008 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]]
|<ref name=allathmen/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[James Benson II]]|USA}}
|L4
|7 June 2024
|[[2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Championships]]
|[[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
|<ref name=ncaa24>[https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2024/012-2-01.htm NCAA Outdoor Championships, Eugene 2024 - Results: Men 4x400 M Relay (Final)]</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Rai Benjamin]]|USA}}
|L4
|10 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name="auto7"/>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.20
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Auhmad Robinson]]|USA}}
|L4
|7 June 2024
|[[2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Championships]]
|[[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
|<ref name=ncaa24/>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="3"| 43.2
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Ronald Freeman]]|USA}}
|L2
|20 October 1968
|[[1968 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Estadio Olímpico Universitario|Mexico City]]
|<ref name=allathmen/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
|L2
|8 April 2006
|[[Texas Relays]] <!-- Men 4x400 Meter Relay Invitational-->
|[[Mike A. Myers Stadium|Austin]]
|<ref name=allathmen/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Tony McQuay]]|USA}}
|L2
|20 August 2016
|[[2016 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Maracanã Stadium|Rio de Janeiro]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/A/T/ATM404101_Results_2016_08_20_3f946dd6_c984_4e33_bf39_31afec5beb68.pdf |title=Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final Results |access-date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920195835/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/A/T/ATM404101_Results_2016_08_20_3f946dd6_c984_4e33_bf39_31afec5beb68.pdf |archive-date=20 September 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.23
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Butch Reynolds]]|USA}}
|L3
|22 August 1993
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[MHPArena|Stuttgart]]
| <ref name=oreg22stutt93/>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.24
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jonathan Jones (runner)|Jonathan Jones]]|BAR}}
|L4
|10 June 2022
|[[2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Championships]]
|[[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
|<ref>[https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2022/012-2-01.htm NCAA Outdoor Championships, Eugene 2024 - Results: Men 4x400 M Relay (Final)]</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"| 43.26
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Vernon Norwood]]|USA}}
|L2
|10 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|<ref name="auto7"/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Wayde Van Niekerk]]|SAF}}
|L3
|21 September 2025
|[[2025 World Athletics Championships|World Championships]]
|[[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"[https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-4X4-M-f----.RS6.pdf World Athletics Championships Tokyo'25 - Men's 4X400 Metres Relay - Final]", World Athletics, 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 43.3
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Demetrius Pinder]]|BAH}}
|L2
|10 August 2012
|[[2012 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[London Stadium|London]]
|<ref name=allathmen/>
|}
<!--*<sup>{{note|pett|B}}</sup> -->
'''Annulled marks'''<br>
*The American athlete [[Antonio Pettigrew]] recorded a split time of 43.1 at the 1997 World Championships men's 4 x 400 m finals in Athens, but his time was annulled in 2008, after Pettigrew admitted to multiple doping violations between 1997 and 2003.<ref>{{cite book|date=11 July 2022|title=World Athletics Championships Oregon22 Statistics Handbook|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Mark|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|others=[[Association of Track and Field Statisticians]]|pages=256|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>

===Women===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Split {{ref|split|A}}
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Leg
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Event
!scope="col"| Place
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"| 47.6
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|11 September 1982
| [[1982 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens]]
|<ref name=allathwom>Peter Larsson, [https://www.alltime-athletics.com/w4x400ok.htm All-time Women's best 4x400m relay]</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.70
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
|L4
|3 June 1984
| [[East German Athletics Championships|National Championships]]
|[[Steigerwaldstadion|Erfurt]]
|<ref name=allathwom/>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.71
|style="text-align:left"| {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}}}}
|L2
|10 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"{{cite web|title=Athletics – Women's 4 x 400m Relay – Final – Results – Revised|work=olympics.com|date=10 August 2024|url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73D_ATHW4X400M------------FNL-000100--.pdf|access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.72
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Allyson Felix]]|USA}}
|L3
|30 August 2015
|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"[https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/4875/AT-4X4-W-f--1--.RS5.pdf World Athletics Championships Beijing - 4x400 Metres Relay Women - Final - Seiko relay split times]", World Athletics, 30 August 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.75
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|14 August 1983
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki Olympic Stadium|Helsinki]]
| <ref>{{cite book|date=11 July 2022|title=World Athletics Championships Oregon22 Statistics Handbook|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Mark|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|others=[[Association of Track and Field Statisticians]]|pages=399|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.8
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Olga Bryzgina]]|URS}}
|L4
|1 October 1988
|[[1988 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]]
|<ref name=allathwom/>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"| 47.82
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Olga Nazarova]]|URS}}
|L2
|1 October 1988
|[[1988 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]]
|<ref name=allathwom/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}}
|L4
|21 September 2025
|[[2025 World Athletics Championships|World Championships]]
|[[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"[https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7190593/AT-4X4-W-f----.RS6.pdf World Athletics Championships Tokyo'25 - Women's 4X400 Metres Relay - Final]", World Athletics, 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.84
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Taťána Kocembová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|18 August 1984
| [[Athletics at the Friendship Games|Friendship Games]]
|[[Stadion Evžena Rošického|Prague]]
|<ref name=allathwom/>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="5"| 47.9
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|5 July 1981
| [[1981 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup Semifinal]]
|[[Frankfurt]]
|<ref name=allathwom/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|2 August 1981
| [[1981 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup B Final]]
|[[Stadio Adriatico – Giovanni Cornacchia|Pescara]]
| <ref name=allathwom/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
|L4
|11 September 1982
| [[1982 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens]]
| <ref name=allathwom/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|TCH}}
|L4
|21 August 1983
| [[1983 European Cup "A" Final|European Cup Final]]
|[[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|London]]
| <ref name=allathwom/>
|-
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
|L4
|4 October 1985
| [[1985 IAAF World Cup|IAAF World Cup]]
|[[Canberra Stadium|Canberra]]
|<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026100106/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/79/40/20100809103225_httppostedfile_split2010_21818.pdf IAAF StatisticsHandbook, Split 2010 - Past results/World Cup Women's 4x400 m relay], page 86</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 47.91
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}}
|L4
|24 July 2022
|[[2022 World Athletics Championships|World Championships]]
|[[Hayward Field|Eugene]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"[https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-4X4-W-f----.RS6.pdf World Athletics Championships Oregon'22 - 4 x 400 Metres Relay Women - Final]", World Athletics, 24 July 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 48.00
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Femke Bol]]|NED}}
|L4 {{ref|mix|C}}
|3 August 2024
|[[2024 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Stade de France|Saint-Denis]]
|style="text-align:center"|<ref>"[https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73D_ATHX4X400M------------FNL-000100--.pdf Athletics – 4 x 400m Relay Mixed – Final – Results – Revised]", ''[[Olympics.com]]'', 5 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 48.01
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Allyson Felix]]|USA}}
|L2
|2 September 2007
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Nagai Stadium|Osaka]]
|<ref>{{cite book|date=11 July 2022|title=World Athletics Championships Oregon22 Statistics Handbook|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Mark|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|others=[[Association of Track and Field Statisticians]]|pages=404|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 48.08
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Florence Griffith-Joyner]]|USA}}
|L4
|1 October 1988
|[[1988 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]]
| <ref name=allathwom/>
|-
!scope="row"|48.1
|style="text-align:left"| {{flagathlete|[[Alicia Brown]]|CAN}}
|L4
|12 May 2019
|[[2019 IAAF World Relays|IAAF World Relays]]
|[[Nissan Stadium (Yokohama)|Yokohama]]
|<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191101100027/https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6359/AT-4X4-W-f--1--.RS5.pdf?v=1919286468 Race analysis 4x400 Metres Women - Final]</ref> 
|}
*<sup>{{note|split|A}}</sup>Relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg. 
*<sup>{{note|johnson|B}}</sup> World Athletics reports a split time of 42.94, which is based on "photo-finish pictures taken at the start and finish of Johnson’s leg supplied by Seiko. Using different methods, the DLV Biomechanics Report from Stuttgart 1993 variously showed timings of 42.91 and 42.92.<ref name=oreg22stutt93/>
*<sup>{{note|mix|C}}</sup> Run in a [[mixed 4 x 400 metres relay]] race.

==Most successful athletes==
3 or more 400-metre victories at the Olympic Games and World Championships:

*6 wins: [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] (USA) - Olympic champion in 1996 and 2000, world champion in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.
*4 wins: [[Marie-Jose Perec]] (FRA) - Olympic champion in 1992 and 1996, world champion in 1991 and 1995.
*3 wins: [[Cathy Freeman]] (AUS) - Olympic champion in 2000, world champion in 1997 and 1999.
*3 wins: [[Jeremy Wariner]] (USA) - Olympic champion in 2004, world champion in 2005 and 2007.
*3 wins: [[Christine Ohuruogu]] (GBR) - Olympic champion in 2008, world champion in 2007 and 2013.
*3 wins: [[LaShawn Merritt]] (USA) - Olympic champion in 2008, world champion in 2009 and 2013.
*3 wins: [[Wayde van Niekerk]] (RSA) - Olympic champion in 2016, world champion in 2015 and 2017.
*3 wins: [[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]] (BAH) - Olympic champion in 2016 and 2020, world champion in 2022.

The Olympic champion has frequently won a second gold medal in the [[4 × 400 metres relay]]. This has been accomplished 14 times by men; [[Charles Reidpath]], [[Ray Barbuti]], [[Bill Carr]], [[George Rhoden]], [[Charles Jenkins Sr.|Charles Jenkins]], [[Otis Davis]], [[Mike Larrabee]], [[Lee Evans (runner)|Lee Evans]], [[Viktor Markin]], [[Alonzo Babers]], [[Steve Lewis (sprinter)|Steve Lewis]], [[Quincy Watts]], [[Jeremy Wariner]] and [[LaShawn Merritt]]; and 4 times by women; [[Monika Zehrt]], [[Valerie Brisco-Hooks]], [[Olga Bryzgina]] and [[Sanya Richards-Ross]]. All but Rhoden, Markin, Zehrt and Bryzgina ran on American relay teams. Injured after his double in 1996, Johnson also accomplished the feat in 2000 only to have it disqualified when his teammate [[Antonio Pettigrew]] admitted to doping.

==Olympic medalists==
===Men===
{{Olympic medalists in men's 400 metres}}

===Women===
{{Olympic medalists in women's 400 metres}}

==World Championships medalists==
===Men===
{{World Championships in Athletics medalists in men's 400 metres}}

===Women===
{{World Championships in Athletics medalists in women's 400 metres}}

==World Indoor Championships medalists==
===Men===
{| {{MedalistTable}}
|-
|[[1985 IAAF World Indoor Games|1985 Paris]]{{ref label|WIG|A}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Thomas Schönlebe]]|GDR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Todd Bennett]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Mark Rowe (sprinter)|Mark Rowe]]|USA}}
|-
|[[1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1987 Indianapolis]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Antonio McKay]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Roberto Hernández (sprinter)|Roberto Hernández]]|CUB}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Michael Franks (athlete)|Michael Franks]]|USA}}
|-
|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 Budapest]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Antonio McKay]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Ian Morris (athlete)|Ian Morris]]|TTO}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Cayetano Cornet]]|ESP}}
|-
|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Devon Morris]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Samson Kitur]]|KEN}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Cayetano Cornet]]|ESP}}
|-
|[[1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1993 Toronto]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Butch Reynolds]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sunday Bada]]|NGR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Darren Clark]]|AUS}}
|-
|[[1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1995 Barcelona]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Darnell Hall]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sunday Bada]]|NGR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Mikhail Vdovin]]|RUS}}
|-
|[[1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1997 Paris]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sunday Bada]]|NGR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jamie Baulch]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Shunji Karube]]|JPN}}
|-
|[[1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1999 Maebashi]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jamie Baulch]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Milton Campbell]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alejandro Cárdenas]]|MEX}}
|-
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2001 Lisbon]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Daniel Caines]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Milton Campbell]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Danny McFarlane]]|JAM}}
|-
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2003 Birmingham]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Tyree Washington]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Daniel Caines]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Paul McKee (athlete)|Paul McKee]]|IRL}}<hr>{{flagathlete|[[Jamie Baulch]]|GBR}}
|-
|[[2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2004 Budapest]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alleyne Francique]]|GRN}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Davian Clarke]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Gary Kikaya]]|COD|2003}}
|-
|[[2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2006 Moscow]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alleyne Francique]]|GRN}}
|{{flagathlete|[[California Molefe]]|BOT}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2008 Valencia]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Tyler Christopher (athlete)|Tyler Christopher]]|CAN}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Johan Wissman]]|SWE}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2010 Doha]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]|BAH}}
|{{flagathlete|[[William Collazo]]|CUB}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jamaal Torrance]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2012 Istanbul]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Nery Brenes]]|CRC}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Demetrius Pinder]]|BAH}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2014 Sopot]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Pavel Maslák]]|CZE}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]|BAH}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Kyle Clemons]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2016 Portland]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Pavel Maslák]]|CZE}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Abdalelah Haroun]]|QAT}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Deon Lendore]]|TTO}}
|-
|[[2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2018 Birmingham]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Pavel Maslák]]|CZE}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Michael Cherry (athlete)|Michael Cherry]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Deon Lendore]]|TTO}}
|-
|[[2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2022 Belgrade]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jereem Richards]]|TTO}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Trevor Bassitt]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Carl Bengtström]]|SWE}}
|-
|[[2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2024 Glasgow]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alexander Doom]]|BEL}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Karsten Warholm]]|NOR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Rusheen McDonald]]|JAM}}
|-
|[[2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2025 Nanjing]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Christopher Bailey (runner)|Christopher Bailey]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Brian Faust]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jacory Patterson]]|USA}}
|}

===Women===
{| {{MedalistTable}}
|-
|[[1985 IAAF World Indoor Games|1985 Paris]]{{ref label|WIG|A}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Diane Dixon]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Regine Berg]]|BEL}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Charmaine Crooks]]|CAN}}
|-
|[[1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1987 Indianapolis]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sabine Busch]]|GDR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Lillie Leatherwood]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Judit Forgács]]|HUN}}
|-
|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 Budapest]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Helga Arendt]]|FRG}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Diane Dixon]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jillian Richardson]]|TTO}}
|-
|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Diane Dixon]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sandra Myers]]|ESP}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Anita Protti]]|SUI}}
|-
|[[1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1993 Toronto]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sandie Richards]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Tatyana Alekseyeva]]|RUS|1991}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jearl Miles Clark]]|USA}}
|-
|[[1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1995 Barcelona]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Irina Privalova]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sandie Richards]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Daniela Georgieva]]|BUL}}
|-
|[[1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1997 Paris]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jearl Miles Clark]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sandie Richards]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Helena Fuchsová]]|CZE}}
|-
|[[1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1999 Maebashi]]<br />{{DetailsLink|1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Grit Breuer]]|GER}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Falilat Ogunkoya]]|NGR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Jearl Miles Clark]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2001 Lisbon]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sandie Richards]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Olga Kotlyarova]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Olesya Zykina]]|RUS}}
|-
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2003 Birmingham]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Natalya Nazarova]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Christine Amertil]]|BAH}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Grit Breuer]]|GER}}
|-
|[[2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2004 Budapest]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Natalya Nazarova]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Olesya Forsheva]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Tonique Williams-Darling]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2006 Moscow]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Olesya Forsheva]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Vania Stambolova]]|BUL}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Christine Amertil]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2008 Valencia]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Olesya Zykina]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Natalya Nazarova]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Shareese Woods]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2010 Doha]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Debbie Dunn]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Vania Stambolova]]|BUL}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Amantle Montsho]]|BOT}}
|-
|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2012 Istanbul]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Sanya Richards-Ross]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Aleksandra Fedoriva]]|RUS}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Natasha Hastings]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2014 Sopot]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Francena McCorory]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Kaliese Spencer]]|JAM}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller]]|BAH}}
|-
|[[2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2016 Portland]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Kemi Adekoya]]|BHR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Ashley Spencer (athlete)|Ashley Spencer]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Quanera Hayes]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2018 Birmingham]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Courtney Okolo]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Shakima Wimbley]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Eilidh Doyle]]|GBR}}
|-
|[[2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2022 Belgrade]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]|BAH}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Femke Bol]]|NED}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Stephenie Ann McPherson]]|JAM}}
|-
|[[2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2024 Glasgow]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Femke Bol]]|NED}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Lieke Klaver]]|NED}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alexis Holmes]]|USA}}
|-
|[[2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships|2025 Nanjing]]<br />{{DetailsLink|2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Amber Anning]]|GBR}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Alexis Holmes]]|USA}}
|{{flagathlete|[[Henriette Jæger]]|NOR}}
|}
*<sup>{{note label|WIG|A}}</sup> Known as the ''World Indoor Games''

==Season's bests==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Men===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Time
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Place
|-
!scope="row"| [[1966 in athletics (track and field)|1966]]
| '''44.82''' {{AthAbbr|y}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Wendell Mottley]]|TTO}}
| [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1967 in athletics (track and field)|1967]]
| '''44.74''' {{AthAbbr|+}} {{AthAbbr|h}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Tommie Smith]]|USA}}
| [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1968 in athletics (track and field)|1968]]
| '''43.86''' {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Lee Evans (runner)|Lee Evans]]|USA}}
| [[Mexico City]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1969 in athletics (track and field)|1969]]
| '''44.67''' {{AthAbbr|y}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Curtis Mills]]|USA}}
| [[Knoxville]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1970 in athletics (track and field)|1970]]
| '''45.01'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Charles Asati]]|KEN}}
| [[Edinburgh]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1971 in athletics (track and field)|1971]]
| '''44.44''' {{AthAbbr|y}} {{AthAbbr|h}}
| {{flagathlete|[[John Smith (sprinter)|John Smith]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1972 in athletics (track and field)|1972]]
| '''44.34''' {{AthAbbr|h}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Wayne Collett]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1973 in athletics (track and field)|1973]]
| '''44.85''' {{AthAbbr|y}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Maurice Peoples]]|USA}}
| [[Baton Rouge]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1974 in athletics (track and field)|1974]]
| '''44.94''' {{AthAbbr|h}} {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Alberto Juantorena]]|CUB}}
| [[Mexico City]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1975 in athletics (track and field)|1975]]
| '''44.45''' {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Ronnie Ray]]|USA}}
| [[Mexico City]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1976 in athletics (track and field)|1976]]
| '''44.26'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Alberto Juantorena]]|CUB}}
| [[Montreal]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1977 in athletics (track and field)|1977]]
| '''44.65'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Alberto Juantorena]]|CUB}}
| [[La Habana]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1978 in athletics (track and field)|1978]]
| '''44.27''' {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Alberto Juantorena]]|CUB}}
| [[Medellín]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1979 in athletics (track and field)|1979]]
| '''44.92'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Harald Schmid]]|FRG}}
| [[Stuttgart]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1980 in athletics (track and field)|1980]]
| '''44.60'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Viktor Markin]]|RUS}}
| [[Moscow]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1981 in athletics (track and field)|1981]]
| '''44.58'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Bert Cameron]]|JAM}}
| [[Baton Rouge]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1982 in athletics (track and field)|1982]]
| '''44.68'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sunder Nix]]|USA}}
| [[Indianapolis]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1983 in athletics (track and field)|1983]]
| '''44.50'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Erwin Skamrahl]]|FRG}}
| [[München]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1984 in athletics (track and field)|1984]]
| '''44.27'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Alonzo Babers]]|USA}}
| [[Los Angeles]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1985 in athletics (track and field)|1985]]
| '''44.47'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Franks (athlete)|Michael Franks]]|USA}}
| [[Canberra]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1986 in athletics (track and field)|1986]]
| '''44.30'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Gabriel Tiacoh]]|CIV}}
| [[Indianapolis]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1987 in athletics (track and field)|1987]]
| '''44.10'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Butch Reynolds]]|USA}}
| [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1988 in athletics (track and field)|1988]]
| '''43.29'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Butch Reynolds]]|USA}}
| [[Zurich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1989 in athletics (track and field)|1989]]
| '''44.27'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Antonio Pettigrew]]|USA}}
| [[Houston]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1990 in athletics (track and field)|1990]]
| '''44.06'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Danny Everett]]|USA}}
| [[Seville]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1991 in athletics (track and field)|1991]]
| '''44.17'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Lausanne]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1992 in athletics (track and field)|1992]]
| '''43.50'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Quincy Watts]]|USA}}
| [[Barcelona]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1993 in athletics (track and field)|1993]]
| '''43.65'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Stuttgart]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1994 in athletics (track and field)|1994]]
| '''43.90'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Madrid]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1995 in athletics (track and field)|1995]]
| '''43.39'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Gothenburg]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1996 in athletics (track and field)|1996]]
| '''43.44'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Atlanta]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1997 in athletics (track and field)|1997]]
| '''43.75'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Waco]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1998 in athletics (track and field)|1998]]
| '''43.68'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Zürich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1999 in athletics (track and field)|1999]]
| '''43.18'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Sevilla]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2000 in athletics (track and field)|2000]]
| '''43.68'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]|USA}}
| [[Sacramento]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2001 in athletics (track and field)|2001]]
| '''44.28'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Tyree Washington]]|USA}}
| [[Los Angeles]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2002 in athletics (track and field)|2002]]
| '''44.45'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Leonard Byrd]]|USA}}
| [[Belém]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2003 in athletics (track and field)|2003]]
| '''44.33'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Tyree Washington]]|USA}}
| [[Palo Alto]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2004 in athletics (track and field)|2004]]
| '''44.00'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
| [[Athens]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2005 in athletics (track and field)|2005]]
| '''43.93'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2006 in athletics (track and field)|2006]]
| '''43.62'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
| [[Rome]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2007 in athletics (track and field)|2007]]
| '''43.45'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
| [[Osaka]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2008 in athletics (track and field)|2008]]
| '''43.75'''
| {{flagathlete|[[LaShawn Merritt]]|USA}}
| [[Beijing]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2009 in athletics (track and field)|2009]]
| '''44.06'''
| {{flagathlete|[[LaShawn Merritt]]|USA}}
| [[Berlin]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2010 in athletics (track and field)|2010]]
| '''44.13'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeremy Wariner]]|USA}}
| [[Zürich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2011 in athletics (track and field)|2011]]
| '''44.35'''
| {{flagathlete|[[LaShawn Merritt]]|USA}}
| [[Daegu]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2012 in athletics (track and field)|2012]]
| '''43.94'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Kirani James]]|GRN}}
| [[London]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2013 in athletics (track and field)|2013]]
| '''43.74'''
| {{flagathlete|[[LaShawn Merritt]]|USA}}
| [[Moscow]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2014 in athletics (track and field)|2014]]
| '''43.74'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Kirani James]]|GRN}}
| [[Lausanne]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2015 in athletics (track and field)|2015]]
| '''43.48'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA}}
| [[Beijing]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2016 in athletics (track and field)|2016]]
| '''43.03'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA}}
| [[Rio de Janeiro]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2017 in athletics (track and field)|2017]]
| '''43.62'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA}}
| [[Lausanne]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2018 in athletics (track and field)|2018]]
| '''43.61'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2019 in athletics (track and field)|2019]]
| '''43.45'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]|USA}}
| [[Murdock Stadium|Torrance]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2020 in athletics (track and field)|2020]]
| '''44.91'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Justin Robinson (sprinter)|Justin Robinson]]|USA}}
| [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]]
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=2|[[2021 in the sport of athletics|2021]]
| rowspan=2|'''43.85'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Randolph Ross]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Steven Gardiner]]|BAH}}
| [[Tokyo]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2022 in the sport of athletics|2022]]
| '''43.56'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Norman (sprinter)|Michael Norman]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2023 in the sport of athletics|2023]]
| '''43.74'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Steven Gardiner]]|BAH}}
| [[Székesfehérvár]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2024 in the sport of athletics|2024]]
| '''43.40'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Quincy Hall]]|USA}}
| [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2025 in the sport of athletics|2025]]
| '''43.53'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Collen Kebinatshipi]]|BOT}}
| [[Tokyo]]
|}
{{col-2}}

===Women===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Time
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Place
|-
!scope="row"| [[1966 in athletics (track and field)|1966]]
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"| [[1967 in athletics (track and field)|1967]]
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"| [[1968 in athletics (track and field)|1968]]
| '''52.03''' {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Colette Besson]]|FRA}}
| [[Mexico City]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1969 in athletics (track and field)|1969]]
| '''51.72'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Nicole Duclos]]|FRA}}
| [[Athens]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1970 in athletics (track and field)|1970]]
| '''51.02'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marilyn Neufville]]|JAM}}
| [[Edinburgh]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1971 in athletics (track and field)|1971]]
| '''52.14'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Helga Seidler]]|GDR}}
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1972 in athletics (track and field)|1972]]
| '''51.08'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Monika Zehrt]]|GDR}}
| [[Munich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1973 in athletics (track and field)|1973]]
| '''51.27'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Mona-Lisa Pursiainen]]|FIN}}
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1974 in athletics (track and field)|1974]]
| '''50.14'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Riitta Salin]]|FIN}}
| [[Rome]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1975 in athletics (track and field)|1975]]
| '''50.50'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Irena Szewinska]]|POL}}
| [[Nice]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1976 in athletics (track and field)|1976]]
| '''49.28'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Irena Szewinska]]|POL}}
| [[Montreal]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1977 in athletics (track and field)|1977]]
| '''49.52'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Irena Szewinska]]|POL}}
| [[Düsseldorf]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1978 in athletics (track and field)|1978]]
| '''48.94'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Prague]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1979 in athletics (track and field)|1979]]
| '''48.60'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Potsdam]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1980 in athletics (track and field)|1980]]
| '''48.88'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Moscow]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1981 in athletics (track and field)|1981]]
| '''48.61'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|CZE}}
| [[Rome]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1982 in athletics (track and field)|1982]]
| '''48.16'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Athens]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1983 in athletics (track and field)|1983]]
| '''47.99'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Jarmila Kratochvílová]]|CZE}}
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1984 in athletics (track and field)|1984]]
| '''48.16'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Prague]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1985 in athletics (track and field)|1985]]
| '''47.60'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Canberra]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1986 in athletics (track and field)|1986]]
| '''48.22'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marita Koch]]|GDR}}
| [[Stuttgart]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1987 in athletics (track and field)|1987]]
| '''49.38'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Olga Bryzgina]]|URS}}
| [[Rome]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1988 in athletics (track and field)|1988]]
| '''48.65'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Olga Bryzgina]]|URS}}
| [[Seoul]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1989 in athletics (track and field)|1989]]
| '''50.01'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Ana Fidelia Quirot]]|CUB}}
| [[Duisburg]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1990 in athletics (track and field)|1990]]
| '''49.50'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Grit Breuer]]|GER}}
| [[Split, Croatia|Split]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1991 in athletics (track and field)|1991]]
| '''49.32'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marie-José Pérec]]|FRA}}
| [[Frankfurt]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1992 in athletics (track and field)|1992]]
| '''48.83'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marie-José Pérec]]|FRA}}
| [[Frankfurt]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1993 in athletics (track and field)|1993]]
| '''49.81'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Ma Yuqin]]|CHN}}
| [[Beijing]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1994 in athletics (track and field)|1994]]
| '''49.77'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marie-José Pérec]]|FRA}}
| [[Paris]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1995 in athletics (track and field)|1995]]
| '''49.28'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marie-José Pérec]]|FRA}}
| [[Gothenburg]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1996 in athletics (track and field)|1996]]
| '''48.25'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marie-José Pérec]]|FRA}}
| [[Atlanta]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1997 in athletics (track and field)|1997]]
| '''49.39'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Cathy Freeman]]|AUS}}
| [[Oslo]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1998 in athletics (track and field)|1998]]
| '''49.29'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Charity Opara]]|NGR}}
| [[Rome]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[1999 in athletics (track and field)|1999]]
| '''49.62'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Falilat Ogunkoya]]|NGR}}
| [[Lagos]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2000 in athletics (track and field)|2000]]
| '''49.11'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Cathy Freeman]]|AUS}}
| [[Sydney]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2001 in athletics (track and field)|2001]]
| '''49.59'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Katharine Merry]]|GBR}}
| [[Athens]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2002 in athletics (track and field)|2002]]
| '''49.16'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Ana Guevara]]|MEX}}
| [[Zürich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2003 in athletics (track and field)|2003]]
| '''48.89'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Ana Guevara]]|MEX}}
| [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2004 in athletics (track and field)|2004]]
| '''49.07'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Tonique Williams-Darling]]|BAH}}
| [[Berlin]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2005 in athletics (track and field)|2005]]
| '''48.92'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sanya Richards-Ross]]|USA}}
| [[Zürich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2006 in athletics (track and field)|2006]]
| '''48.70'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sanya Richards-Ross]]|USA}}
| [[Athens]]
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=2|[[2007 in athletics (track and field)|2007]]
| rowspan=2|'''49.27'''
| rowspan=2|{{flagathlete|[[Sanya Richards-Ross]]|USA}}
| [[Berlin]]
|-
| [[Stuttgart]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2008 in athletics (track and field)|2008]]
| '''49.62'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Christine Ohuruogu]]|GBR}}
| [[Beijing]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2009 in athletics (track and field)|2009]]
| '''48.83'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sanya Richards-Ross]]|USA}}
| [[Brussels]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2010 in athletics (track and field)|2010]]
| '''49.64'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Debbie Dunn]]|USA}}
| [[Des Moines]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2011 in athletics (track and field)|2011]]
| '''49.35'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Anastasiya Kapachinskaya]]|RUS}}
| [[Cheboksary]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2012 in athletics (track and field)|2012]]
| '''49.16'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Antonina Krivoshapka]]|RUS}}
| [[Cheboksary]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2013 in athletics (track and field)|2013]]
| '''49.33'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Amantle Montsho]]|BOT}}
| [[Monaco]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2014 in athletics (track and field)|2014]]
| '''49.48'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Francena McCorory]]|USA}}
| [[Sacramento]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2015 in athletics (track and field)|2015]]
| '''49.26'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Allyson Felix]]|USA}}
| [[Beijing]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2016 in athletics (track and field)|2016]]
| '''49.44'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller]]|BAH}}
| [[Rio de Janeiro]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2017 in athletics (track and field)|2017]]
| '''49.46'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]|BAH}}
| [[Brussels]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2018 in athletics (track and field)|2018]]
| '''48.97'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]|BAH}}
| [[Monaco]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2019 in athletics (track and field)|2019]]
| '''48.14'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Salwa Eid Naser]]|BHR}}
| [[Doha, Qatar|Doha]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2020 in athletics (track and field)|2020]]
| '''50.42''' {{AthAbbr|A}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Beatrice Masilingi]]|NAM}}
| [[Pretoria]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2021 in athletics (track and field)|2021]]
| '''48.36'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo]]|BAH}}
| [[Tokyo]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2022 in athletics (track and field)|2022]]
| '''48.99'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marileidy Paulino]]|DOM}}
| [[Zürich]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2023 in athletics (track and field)|2023]]
| '''48.74'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}}
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2024 in athletics (track and field)|2024]]
| '''48.17'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Marileidy Paulino]]|DOM}}
| [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|-
!scope="row"| [[2025 in the sport of athletics|2025]]
| '''47.78'''
| {{flagathlete|[[Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone]]|USA}}
| [[Tokyo]]
|}
{{col-end}}

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://iaaf.gekko.de/?a=sprints&d=400-metres IAAF list of 400-metres records in XML]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090603075910/http://www.mastersathletics.net/400-meter-Dash-M35-39-Track-and-Field-Wo.1100.0.html All-time Masters men's 400&nbsp;m list]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090603001358/http://www.mastersathletics.net/400-meter-Dash-W35-39-Track-and-Field-Wo.1110.0.html All-time Masters women's 400&nbsp;m list]

{{Athletics events}}
{{Portal bar|Athletics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:400 metres| ]]
[[Category:Events in track and field]]
[[Category:Sprint running disciplines]]
[[Category:Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics]]