# 4 × 400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships

The 4 × 400 metres relay at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. The competition features three formats in relation to gender: men, women, and mixed. The 2019 edition added in the mixed competition. The format utilizes one set of heats qualifying the top 8 into a final.
The United States holds all the championship records in this event. For both the men and women, the record has been held since 1993 with a time of 2:54.29 for the men and 3:16.71 for the women. In the mixed competition, a time of 3:09.34 was set in 2019. For the men and the mixed records, they are also both world records.

## Age records

* All information from World Athletics.
| Distinction | Male | Male | Male | Female | Female | Female |
| Distinction | Athlete | Age | Date | Athlete | Age | Date |
| Youngest champion | Mark Richardson (GBR) | 19 years, 37 days | 1 Sep 1991 | Sanya Richards (USA) | 18 years, 186 days | 31 Aug 2003 |
| Youngest medalist | Kunle Adejuyigbe (NGR) | 18 years, 5 days | 13 Aug 1995 | Sanya Richards (USA) | 18 years, 186 days | 31 Aug 2003 |
| Youngest finalist | Renny Quow (TTO) | 17 years, 354 days | 14 Aug 2005 | Doris Jacob (NGR) | 15 years, 237 days | 10 Aug 1997 |
| Youngest participant | Masoud Al-Rahman (QAT) | 16 years, 354 days | 31 Aug 1991 | Doris Jacob (NGR) | 15 years, 236 days | 9 Aug 1997 |
| Oldest champion | Timothy Munnings (BAH) | 35 years, 51 days | 12 Aug 2001 | Jearl Miles Clark (USA) | 36 years, 361 days | 31 Aug 2003 |
| Oldest medalist | Timothy Munnings (BAH) | 35 years, 51 days | 12 Aug 2001 | Jearl Miles Clark (USA) | 36 years, 361 days | 31 Aug 2003 |
| Oldest finalist | Isaac Makwala (BOT) | 35 years, 298 days | 24 Jul 2022 | Jearl Miles Clark (USA) | 36 years, 361 days | 31 Aug 2003 |
| Oldest participant | Isaac Makwala (BOT) | 35 years, 298 days | 24 Jul 2022 | Christine Amertil (BAH) | 37 years, 359 days | 12 Aug 2017 |

### Mixed 4 × 400 relay

| Distinction | Male | Male | Male | Female | Female | Female |
| Distinction | Athlete | Age | Date | Athlete | Age | Date |
| Youngest champion | Wil London (USA) | 22 years, 43 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Fiordaliza Cofil (DOM) | 21 years, 261 days | 15 Jul 2022 |
| Youngest medalist | Moussa Ali Issa (BHR) | 19 years, 34 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | 21 years, 129 days | 29 Sep 2019 |
| Youngest finalist | Moussa Ali Issa (BHR) | 19 years, 34 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Imeobong Nse Uko (NGR) | 18 years, 145 days | 15 Jul 2022 |
| Youngest participant | Moussa Ali Issa (BHR) | 19 years, 33 days | 28 Sep 2019 | Saki Takashima (JPN) | 17 years, 222 days | 28 Sep 2019 |
| Oldest champion | Michael Cherry (USA) | 24 years, 190 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 33 years, 239 days | 29 Sep 2019 |
| Oldest medalist | Javon Francis (JAM) | 24 years, 289 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 36 years, 315 days | 15 Jul 2022 |
| Oldest finalist | Rabah Yousif (GBR) | 32 years, 292 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Geisa Coutinho (BRA) | 39 years, 120 days | 29 Sep 2019 |
| Oldest participant | Rabah Yousif (GBR) | 32 years, 292 days | 29 Sep 2019 | Geisa Coutinho (BRA) | 39 years, 120 days | 29 Sep 2019 |

## Medalists
### Men

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | Soviet Union (URS) Sergey Lovachov Aliaksandr Trashchyla Nikolay Chernetskiy Viktor Markin | West Germany (FRG) Erwin Skamrahl Jörg Vaihinger Harald Schmid Hartmut Weber Martin Weppler* Edgar Nakladal* | Great Britain (GBR) Ainsley Bennett Garry Cook Todd Bennett Phil Brown Kriss Akabusi* |
| 1987 Rome details | United States (USA) Danny Everett Roddie Haley Antonio McKay Butch Reynolds Michael Franks* Raymond Pierre* | Great Britain (GBR) Derek Redmond Kriss Akabusi Roger Black Phil Brown Todd Bennett* Mark Thomas* | Cuba (CUB) Leandro Peñalver Agustín Pavó Lázaro Martínez Roberto Hernández |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Great Britain (GBR) Roger Black Derek Redmond John Regis Kriss Akabusi Ade Mafe* Mark Richardson* | United States (USA) Andrew Valmon Quincy Watts Danny Everett Antonio Pettigrew Jeff Reynolds* Mark Everett* | Jamaica (JAM) Patrick O'Connor Devon Morris Winthrop Graham Seymour Fagan Howard Burnett* |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | United States (USA) Andrew Valmon Quincy Watts Butch Reynolds Michael Johnson Antonio Pettigrew* Derek Mills* | Kenya (KEN) Kennedy Ochieng Simon Kemboi Abednego Matilu Samson Kitur | Germany (GER) Rico Lieder Karsten Just Olaf Hense Thomas Schönlebe |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | United States (USA) Marlon Ramsey Derek Mills Butch Reynolds Michael Johnson Kevin Lyles* Darnell Hall* | Jamaica (JAM) Michael McDonald Davian Clarke Danny McFarlane Greg Haughton Dennis Blake* | Nigeria (NGR) Udeme Ekpeyong Kunle Adejuyigbe Jude Monye Sunday Bada |
| 1997 Athens$^{dq1}$ details | Great Britain (GBR) Iwan Thomas Roger Black Jamie Baulch Mark Richardson Mark Hylton* | Jamaica (JAM) Michael McDonald Greg Haughton Danny McFarlane Davian Clarke Linval Laird* | Poland (POL) Tomasz Czubak Piotr Rysiukiewicz Piotr Haczek Robert Maćkowiak |
| 1999 Seville$^{dq2}$ details | Poland (POL) Tomasz Czubak Robert Maćkowiak Jacek Bocian Piotr Haczek Piotr Długosielski* | Jamaica (JAM) Michael McDonald Greg Haughton Danny McFarlane Davian Clarke Paston Coke* Omar Brown* | South Africa (RSA) Jopie van Oudtshoorn Hendrick Mokganyetsi Adriaan Botha Arnaud Malherbe |
| 2001 Edmonton$^{dq3}$ details | Bahamas (BAH) Avard Moncur Chris Brown Troy McIntosh Timothy Munnings Carl Oliver* | Jamaica (JAM) Brandon Simpson Christopher Williams Greg Haughton Danny McFarlane Michael Blackwood* Mario Watts* | Poland (POL) Rafał Wieruszewski Piotr Haczek Piotr Długosielski Piotr Rysiukiewicz Jacek Bocian* |
| 2003 Saint-Denis$^{dq4}$ details | France (FRA) Leslie Djhone Naman Keïta Stéphane Diagana Marc Raquil Ahmed Douhou* | Jamaica (JAM) Brandon Simpson Danny McFarlane Davian Clarke Michael Blackwood Michael Campbell* Lansford Spence* | Bahamas (BAH) Avard Moncur Dennis Darling Nathaniel McKinney Chris Brown Carl Oliver* |
| 2005 Helsinki details | United States (USA) Andrew Rock Derrick Brew Darold Williamson Jeremy Wariner Miles Smith* LaShawn Merritt* | Bahamas (BAH) Nathaniel McKinney Avard Moncur Andrae Williams Chris Brown Troy McIntosh* | Jamaica (JAM) Sanjay Ayre Brandon Simpson Lansford Spence Davian Clarke Michael Blackwood* |
| 2007 Osaka details | United States (USA) LaShawn Merritt Angelo Taylor Darold Williamson Jeremy Wariner Bershawn Jackson* Kerron Clement* | Bahamas (BAH) Avard Moncur Michael Mathieu Andrae Williams Chris Brown Nathaniel McKinney* | Poland (POL) Marek Plawgo Daniel Dąbrowski Marcin Marciniszyn Kacper Kozłowski Rafał Wieruszewski* Witold Bańka* |
| 2009 Berlin details | United States (USA) Angelo Taylor Jeremy Wariner Kerron Clement LaShawn Merritt Lionel Larry* Bershawn Jackson* | Great Britain (GBR) Conrad Williams Michael Bingham Robert Tobin Martyn Rooney Dai Greene* | Australia (AUS) John Steffensen Ben Offereins Tristan Thomas Sean Wroe Joel Milburn* |
| 2011 Daegu details | United States (USA) Greg Nixon Bershawn Jackson Angelo Taylor LaShawn Merritt Jamaal Torrance* Michael Berry* | South Africa (RSA) Shane Victor Ofentse Mogawane Willem de Beer L. J. van Zyl Oscar Pistorius* | Jamaica (JAM) Allodin Fothergill Jermaine Gonzales Riker Hylton Leford Green Lansford Spence* |
| 2013 Moscow$^{dq5}$ details | United States (USA) David Verburg Tony McQuay Arman Hall LaShawn Merritt James Harris* Joshua Mance* | Jamaica (JAM) Rusheen McDonald Edino Steele Omar Johnson Javon Francis Javere Bell* | Great Britain (GBR) Conrad Williams Martyn Rooney Michael Bingham Nigel Levine Jamie Bowie* |
| 2015 Beijing details | United States (USA) David Verburg Tony McQuay Bryshon Nellum LaShawn Merritt Kyle Clemons* Vernon Norwood* | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) Renny Quow Lalonde Gordon Deon Lendore Machel Cedenio Jarrin Solomon* | Great Britain (GBR) Rabah Yousif Delano Williams Jarryd Dunn Martyn Rooney |
| 2017 London details | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) Jarrin Solomon Jereem Richards Machel Cedenio Lalonde Gordon Renny Quow* | United States (USA) Wil London Gil Roberts Michael Cherry Fred Kerley Bryshon Nellum* Tony McQuay* | Great Britain (GBR) Matthew Hudson-Smith Rabah Yousif Dwayne Cowan Martyn Rooney Jack Green* |
| 2019 Doha details | United States (USA) Fred Kerley Michael Cherry Wil London Rai Benjamin Tyrell Richard* Vernon Norwood* Nathan Strother* | Jamaica (JAM) Akeem Bloomfield Nathon Allen Terry Thomas Demish Gaye Javon Francis* | Belgium (BEL) Jonathan Sacoor Robin Vanderbemden Dylan Borlée Kevin Borlée Julien Watrin* |
| 2022 Eugene details | United States (USA) Elija Godwin Michael Norman Bryce Deadmon Champion Allison Trevor Bassitt* Vernon Norwood* | Jamaica (JAM) Akeem Bloomfield Nathon Allen Jevaughn Powell Christopher Taylor Karayme Bartley* Anthony Cox* | Belgium (BEL) Dylan Borlée Julien Watrin Alexander Doom Kevin Borlée Jonathan Sacoor* |
| 2023 Budapest details | United States (USA) Quincy Hall Vernon Norwood Justin Robinson Rai Benjamin Trevor Bassitt* Matthew Boling* Christopher Bailey* | France (FRA) Ludvy Vaillant Gilles Biron David Sombé Téo Andant Loïc Prévot* | Great Britain (GBR) Alex Haydock-Wilson Charlie Dobson Lewis Davey Rio Mitcham |
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
* $^{dq1}$ The United States team (Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Chris Jones and Tyree Washington) originally won the 1997 World Championships in a time of 2:56.47 minutes, but was disqualified in 2009 after Pettigrew admitted to doping during the period.
* $^{dq2}$ The United States team (Jerome Davis, Antonio Pettigrew, Angelo Taylor and Michael Johnson) originally won the 1999 World Championships, but was disqualified in 2009 after Pettigrew admitted to doping during the period.
* $^{dq3}$ The United States team (Leonard Byrd, Antonio Pettigrew, Derrick Brew and Angelo Taylor) originally won the 2001 World Championships, but was disqualified in 2009 after Pettigrew admitted to doping during the period.
* $^{dq4}$ The United States team (Calvin Harrison, Tyree Washington, Derrick Brew and Jerome Young) originally won the 2003 World Championships, but was disqualified in 2004 after Harrison and Young were found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
* $^{dq5}$ The Russian team (Maksim Dyldin, Lev Mosin, Sergey Petukhov and Vladimir Krasnov) originally finished third in the 2013 World Championships, but was disqualified after Dyldin was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.

#### Medalists by country

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| 3 | Bahamas (BAH) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | France (FRA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Poland (POL) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Jamaica (JAM) | 0 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| 9 | Germany (GER) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | South Africa (RSA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | Australia (AUS) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Women

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | East Germany (GDR) Kerstin Walther Sabine Busch Marita Koch Dagmar Rübsam Undine Bremer* Ellen Fiedler* | Czechoslovakia (TCH) Taťána Kocembová Milena Matějkovičová Zuzana Moravčíková Jarmila Kratochvílová | Soviet Union (URS) Yelena Korban Marina Ivanova Irina Baskakova Mariya Pinigina |
| 1987 Rome details | East Germany (GDR) Dagmar Neubauer Kirsten Emmelmann Petra Müller Sabine Busch Cornelia Ullrich* | Soviet Union (URS) Aelita Yurchenko Olga Nazarova Mariya Pinigina Olga Bryzgina | United States (USA) Diane Dixon Denean Howard Valerie Brisco Lillie Leatherwood |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Soviet Union (URS) Tatyana Ledovskaya Lyudmyla Dzhyhalova Olga Nazarova Olga Bryzgina Anna Chuprina* | United States (USA) Rochelle Stevens Diane Dixon Jearl Miles Lillie Leatherwood Natasha Kaiser-Brown* | Germany (GER) Uta Rohländer Katrin Krabbe Christine Wachtel Grit Breuer Annett Hesselbarth* Katrin Schreiter* |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | United States (USA) Gwen Torrence Maicel Malone-Wallace Natasha Kaiser Jearl Miles Terri Dendy* Michelle Collins* | Russia (RUS) Yelena Rouzina Tatyana Alekseyeva Margarita Ponomaryova Irina Privalova Yelena Golesheva* Vera Sychugova* | Great Britain (GBR) Linda Keough Phylis Smith Tracy Goddard Sally Gunnell |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | United States (USA) Kim Graham Rochelle Stevens Camara Jones Jearl Miles Nicole Green* | Russia (RUS) Tatyana Chebykina Svetlana Goncharenko Yuliya Sotnikova Yelena Andreyeva Tatyana Zakharova* | Australia (AUS) Lee Naylor Renée Poetschka Melinda Gainsford Cathy Freeman |
| 1997 Athens details | Germany (GER) Anke Feller Uta Rohländer Anja Rücker Grit Breuer | United States (USA) Maicel Malone Kim Graham Kim Batten Jearl Miles Clark Michelle Collins* Natasha Kaiser-Brown* | Jamaica (JAM) Inez Turner Lorraine Graham Deon Hemmings Sandie Richards Nadia Graham-Hutchinson* |
| 1999 Seville details | Russia (RUS) Tatyana Chebykina Svetlana Goncharenko Olga Kotlyarova Natalya Nazarova Natalya Sharova* Yekaterina Bakhvalova* | United States (USA) Suziann Reid Maicel Malone-Wallace Michelle Collins Jearl Miles Clark Andrea Anderson* | Germany (GER) Anke Feller Uta Rohländer Anja Rücker Grit Breuer Anja Knippel* |
| 2001 Edmonton details | Jamaica (JAM) Sandie Richards Catherine Scott-Pomales Debbie-Ann Parris Lorraine Fenton Michelle Burgher* Deon Hemmings* | Germany (GER) Florence Ekpo-Umoh Shanta Ghosh Claudia Marx Grit Breuer | Russia (RUS) Irina Rosikhina Yuliya Pechonkina Anastasiya Kapachinskaya Olesya Zykina Natalya Shevtsova* |
| 2003 Saint-Denis details | United States (USA) Demetria Washington Jearl Miles Clark Me'Lisa Barber Sanya Richards DeeDee Trotter* | Russia (RUS) Anastasiya Kapachinskaya Natalya Nazarova Olesya Zykina Yuliya Pechonkina (Nosova) Svetlana Goncharenko* Svetlana Pospelova* | Jamaica (JAM) Allison Beckford Lorraine Fenton (Graham) Ronetta Smith Sandie Richards Michelle Burgher* |
| 2005 Helsinki details | Russia (RUS) Yuliya Pechonkina Olesya Krasnomovets Natalya Antyukh Svetlana Pospelova Tatyana Firova* Olesya Zykina* | Jamaica (JAM) Shericka Williams Novlene Williams Ronetta Smith Lorraine Fenton | Great Britain (GBR) Lee McConnell Donna Fraser Nicola Sanders Christine Ohuruogu |
| 2007 Osaka details | United States (USA) DeeDee Trotter Allyson Felix Mary Wineberg Sanya Richards Monique Hennagan* Natasha Hastings* | Jamaica (JAM) Shericka Williams Shereefa Lloyd Davita Prendagast Novlene Williams Anastasia Le-Roy* | Great Britain (GBR) Christine Ohuruogu Marilyn Okoro Lee McConnell Nicola Sanders Donna Fraser* |
| 2009 Berlin$^{dq1}$ details | United States (USA) Debbie Dunn Allyson Felix Lashinda Demus Sanya Richards Natasha Hastings* Jessica Beard* | Jamaica (JAM) Rosemarie Whyte Novlene Williams-Mills Shereefa Lloyd Shericka Williams Kaliese Spencer* | Great Britain (GBR) Lee McConnell Christine Ohuruogu Vicki Barr Nicola Sanders Jenny Meadows* |
| 2011 Daegu$^{dq2}$ details | United States (USA) Sanya Richards-Ross Allyson Felix Jessica Beard Francena McCorory Natasha Hastings* Keshia Baker* | Jamaica (JAM) Rosemarie Whyte Davita Prendergast Novlene Williams-Mills Shericka Williams Shereefa Lloyd* Patricia Hall* | Great Britain (GBR) Perri Shakes-Drayton Nicola Sanders Christine Ohuruogu Lee McConnell |
| 2013 Moscow$^{dq3}$ details | United States (USA) Jessica Beard Natasha Hastings Ashley Spencer Francena McCorory Joanna Atkins* | Great Britain (GBR) Eilidh Child Shana Cox Margaret Adeoye Christine Ohuruogu | France (FRA) Marie Gayot Lénora Guion-Firmin Muriel Hurtis-Houairi Floria Guei Phara Anacharsis* |
| 2015 Beijing details | Jamaica (JAM) Christine Day Shericka Jackson Stephenie Ann McPherson Novlene Williams-Mills Anastasia Le-Roy* Chrisann Gordon* | United States (USA) Sanya Richards-Ross Natasha Hastings Allyson Felix Francena McCorory Phyllis Francis* Jessica Beard* | Great Britain (GBR) Christine Ohuruogu Anyika Onuora Eilidh Child Seren Bundy-Davies Kirsten McAslan* |
| 2017 London details | United States (USA) Quanera Hayes Allyson Felix Shakima Wimbley Phyllis Francis Kendall Ellis* Natasha Hastings* | Great Britain (GBR) Zoey Clark Laviai Nielsen Eilidh Doyle Emily Diamond Perri Shakes-Drayton* | Poland (POL) Małgorzata Hołub Iga Baumgart Aleksandra Gaworska Justyna Święty Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz* Martyna Dąbrowska* |
| 2019 Doha details | United States (USA) Phyllis Francis Sydney McLaughlin Dalilah Muhammad Wadeline Jonathas Jessica Beard* Allyson Felix* Kendall Ellis* Courtney Okolo* | Poland (POL) Iga Baumgart-Witan Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik Justyna Święty-Ersetic Anna Kiełbasińska* | Jamaica (JAM) Anastasia Le-Roy Tiffany James Stephenie Ann McPherson Shericka Jackson Roneisha McGregor* |
| 2022 Eugene details | United States (USA) Talitha Diggs Abby Steiner Britton Wilson Sydney McLaughlin Kaylin Whitney* Allyson Felix* Jaide Stepter Baynes* | Jamaica (JAM) Candice McLeod Janieve Russell Stephenie Ann McPherson Charokee Young Stacey Ann Williams* Junelle Bromfield* Tiffany James* | Great Britain (GBR) Victoria Ohuruogu Nicole Yeargin Jessie Knight Laviai Nielsen Ama Pipi* |
| 2023 Budapest details | Netherlands (NED) Eveline Saalberg Lieke Klaver Cathelijn Peeters Femke Bol Lisanne de Witte* | Jamaica (JAM) Candice McLeod Janieve Russell Nickisha Pryce Stacey-Ann Williams Charokee Young* Shiann Salmon* | Great Britain (GBR) Laviai Nielsen Amber Anning Ama Pipi Nicole Yeargin Yemi Mary John* |
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
* $^{dq1}$ The Russian team (Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, Tatyana Firova, Lyudmila Litvinova and Antonina Krivoshapka) originally finished third in the 2009 World Championships, but was disqualified after Kapachinskaya was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
* $^{dq2}$ The Russian team (Antonina Krivoshapka, Natalya Antyukh, Lyudmila Litvinova and Anastasiya Kapachinskaya) originally finished third in the 2011 World Championships, but was disqualified after Kapachinskaya was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
* $^{dq3}$ The Russian team (Yuliya Gushchina, Tatyana Firova, Kseniya Ryzhova and Antonina Krivoshapka) originally won in the 2013 World Championships, but was disqualified after Krivoshapka was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.

#### Medalists by country

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 10 | 5 | 1 | 16 |
| 2 | Russia (RUS) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 3 | Jamaica (JAM) | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | East Germany (GDR) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Germany (GER) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Netherlands (NED) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| 9 | Poland (POL) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Australia (AUS) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | France (FRA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Mixed

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2019 Doha details | United States (USA) Wilbert London Allyson Felix Courtney Okolo Michael Cherry Tyrell Richard* Jessica Beard* Jasmine Blocker* Obi Igbokwe* | Jamaica (JAM) Nathon Allen Roneisha McGregor Tiffany James Javon Francis Janieve Russell* | Bahrain (BHR) Musa Isah Aminat Jamal Salwa Eid Naser Abbas Abubakar Abbas |
| 2022 Eugene details | Dominican Republic (DOM) Fiordaliza Cofil Lidio Andrés Feliz Alexander Ogando Marileidy Paulino | Netherlands (NED) Femke Bol Liemarvin Bonevacia Tony van Diepen Lieke Klaver Eveline Saalberg* | United States (USA) Allyson Felix Elija Godwin Vernon Norwood Kennedy Simon Wadeline Jonathas* |
| 2023 Budapest details | United States (USA) Justin Robinson Rosey Effiong Matthew Boling Alexis Holmes Ryan Willie* | Great Britain (GBR) Lewis Davey Laviai Nielsen Rio Mitcham Yemi Mary John Joseph Brier* | Czech Republic (CZE) Matěj Krsek Tereza Petržilková Patrik Šorm Lada Vondrová |
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.

## Championship record progression
### Men

Men's 4 × 400 metres relay World Championships record progression :
| Time | Nation | Location | Round | Date | Athletes |
| 3.06.62 | United States (USA) | Helsinki | Heat 1 | Aug 13, 1983 | Alonzo Babers, Willie Smith, Andre Phillips, Michael Franks |
| 3.02.13 | United States (USA) | Helsinki | Semifinals | Aug 13, 1983 | Alonzo Babers, Sunder Nix, Willie Smith, Edwin Moses |
| 3.00.79 | Soviet Union (URS) | Helsinki | Final | Aug 14, 1983 | Sergey Lovachov, Aleksandr Troshchilo, Nikolay Chernetskiy, Viktor Markin |
| 2.59.06 | United States (USA) | Rome | Heat 2 | Sep 05, 1987 | Danny Everett, Michael Franks, Raymond Pierre, Antonio McKay |
| 2.57.29 | United States (USA) | Rome | Final | Sep 06, 1987 | Danny Everett, Roddie Haley, Antonio McKay, Butch Reynolds |
| 2.54.29 | United States (USA) | Stuttgart | Final | Aug 22, 1993 | Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson |

### Women

Women's 4 × 400 metres relay World Championships record progression :
| Time | Nation | Location | Round | Date | Athletes |
| 3.26.82 | United States (USA) | Helsinki | Heats | Aug 13, 1983 | Roberta Belle, Easter Gabriel, Rosalyn Bryant, Denean Howard |
| 3:19.73 | East Germany (GDR) | Helsinki | Finwal | Aug 14, 1983 | Kerstin Walther, Sabine Busch, Marita Koch, Dagmar Rübsam |
| 3:18.63 | East Germany (GDR) | Rome | Final | Sep 6, 1987 | Dagmar Neubauer, Kirsten Emmelmann, Petra Muller, Sabine Busch |
| 3:18.43 | Soviet Union (URS) | Tokyo | Final | Sep 1, 1991 | Tatyana Ledovskaya, Lyudmila Dzhigalova, Olga Nazarova, Olha Bryzhina |
| 3:16.71 | United States (USA) | Stuttgart | Final | Aug 22, 1993 | Gwen Torrence, Maicel Malone, Natasha Kaiser-Brown, Jearl Miles |

### Mixed

Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay World Championships record progression :
| Time | Nation | Location | Round | Date | Athletes |
| 3:12.42 | United States (USA) | Doha | Heats | 28 Sep, 2019 | Tyrell Richard, Jessica Beard, Jasmine Blocker, Obi Igbokwe |
| 3:09.34 | United States (USA) | Doha | Final | 29 Sep, 2019 | Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry |
| 3:08.80 | United States (USA) | Budapest | Final | Aug 19, 2023 | Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, Alexis Holmes |

## Finishing times
### Top ten fastest World Championship times

Fastest men's times at the World Championships :
| Rank | Time (sec) | Nation | Athletes | Games | Round | Date |
| 1 | 2:54.29 | United States (USA) | Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Harry Reynolds, Michael Johnson | 1993 | Final | 22 August |
| 2 | 2:55.56 | United States (USA) | LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner | 2007 | Final | 2 September |
| 3 | 2:56.17 | United States (USA) | Elija Godwin, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon, Champion Allison | 2022 | Final | 24 July |
| 4 | 2:56.65 | Great Britain (GBR) | Iwan Thomas, Roger Black, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson | 1997 | Final | 10 August |
| 5 | 2:56.69 | United States (USA) | Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Wilbert London, Rai Benjamin | 2019 | Final | 6 October |
| 6 | 2:56.75 | Jamaica (JAM) | Michael McDonald, Gregory Haughton, Danny McFarlane, Davian Clarke | 1997 | Final | 14 August |
| 7 | 2:56.91 | United States (USA) | Andrew Rock, Derrick Brew, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner | 2005 | Final | 5 October |
| 8 | 2:57.29 | United States (USA) | Danny Everett, Roddie Haley, Dennis Mitchell, Leroy Burrell | 1987 | Final | 6 September |
| 9 | 2:57.31 | United States (USA) | Quincy Hall, Vernon Norwood, Justin Robinson, Rai Benjamin | 2023 | Final | 27 August |
| 10 | 2:57.32 | United States (USA) | Marlon Ramsey, Derek Mills, Harry Reynolds, Michael Johnson | 1995 | Final | 13 August |
Fastest women's times at the World Championships :
| Rank | Time (sec) | Nation | Athletes | Games | Round | Date |
| 1 | 3:16.71 | United States (USA) | Gwen Torrence, Maicel Malone, Natasha Kaiser-Brown, Jearl Miles Clark | 1993 | Final | 22 August |
| 2 | 3:17.79 | United States (USA) | Talitha Diggs, Abby Steiner, Britton Wilson, Sydney McLaughlin | 2022 | Final | 24 July |
| 3 | 3:17.83 | United States (USA) | Debbie Dunn, Allyson Felix, Lashinda Demus, Sanya Richards | 2009 | Final | 23 August |
| 4 | 3:18.09 | United States (USA) | Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix, Jessica Beard, Francena McCorory | 2011 | Final | 3 September |
| 5 | 3:18.38 | Russia (RUS) | Yelena Ruzina, Tatyana Alekseyeva, Margarita Ponomaryova, Irina Privalova | 1993 | Final | 22 August |
| 6 | 3:18.43 | Soviet Union (USSR) | Tatyana Ledovskaya, Lyudmila Dzhigalova, Olga Nazarova, Olga Bryzgina | 1991 | Final | 1 September |
| 7 | 3:18.55 | United States (USA) | Dee Dee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Mary Wineberg, Sanya Richards | 2007 | Final | 2 September |
| 8 | 3:18.63 | East Germany (GDR) | Dagmar Neubauer, Kirsten Emmelmann, Petra Schersing, Sabine Busch | 1987 | Final | 6 September |
| 9 | 3:18.71 | Jamaica (JAM) | Rosemarie Whyte, Davita Prendergast, Novlene Williams-Mills, Shericka Williams | 2011 | Final | 3 September |
| 10 | 3:18.92 | United States (USA) | Phyllis Francis, Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, Wadeline Jonathas | 2019 | Final | 6 October |
Fastest mixed times at the World Championships :
| Rank | Time (sec) | Nation | Athletes | Games | Round | Date |
| 1 | 3:08.80 | United States (USA) | Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, Alexis Holmes | 2023 | Final | 19 August |
| 2 | 3:09.34 | United States (USA) | Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry | 2019 | Final | 29 September |
| 3 | 3:09.82 | Dominican Republic (DOM) | Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Alexander Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil | 2022 | Final | 15 July |
| 4 | 3:09.90 | Netherlands (NED) | Liemarvin Bonevacia, Lieke Klaver, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol | 2022 | Final | 15 July |
| 5 | 3:10.16 | United States (USA) | Elija Godwin, Allyson Felix, Vernon Norwood, Kennedy Simon | 2022 | Final | 15 July |
| 6 | 3:10.41 | United States (USA) | Ryan Willie, Rosey Effiong, Justin Robinson, Alexis Holmes | 2023 | Heats | 19 August |
| 7 | 3:11.06 | Great Britain (GBR) | Lewis Davey, Laviai Nielsen, Rio Mitcham, Yemi Mary John | 2023 | Final | 19 August |
| 8 | 3:11.19 | Great Britain (GBR) | Joseph Brier, Laviai Nielsen, Rio Mitcham, Yemi Mary John | 2023 | Heats | 19 August |
| 9 | 3:11.75 | United States (USA) | Elija Godwin, Kennedy Simon, Vernon Norwood, Wadeline Jonathas | 2022 | Heats | 15 July |
| 10 | 3:11.78 | Jamaica (JAM) | Nathon Allen, Roneisha McGregor, Tiffany James, Javon Francis | 2019 | Final | 29 September |