World Records for Chin-Ups and Pull-Ups

WORLD RECORD LIST

New record claims for this list are welcome! If possible, please contact us BEFORE your record attempt. Your documentation will be submitted to the "Book of Alternative Records" by us.
To submit a record claim to Guinness World Records as well, please contact Guinness World Records using their web site.

THE RULES

(If you want to break a record that is published in a record book or governed by an international authorithy, there may be other or additional rules. See here for more information.)

We make a difference between
In one attempt, you cannot mix both grips. The tables list the "absolute record" (for either chin-ups or pull-ups), but as both exercises can be regarded as different categories, there is a comment about the grip used for the attempt.
  1. The chin must be raised above the bar.
  2. Each single chin-up must be started from a hanging position, i.e. the arms must be straight in the "down" position.
  3. You can dismount as often as you wish.
  4. Video documentation must be provided. The camera should be at the height of the bar so that it is possible to decide whether the chin cleared the bar. The full body of the contestant must be visible all the time.
  5. The chin must be raised above the bar level, otherwise the chin-up has to be disallowed by the judges.
  6. Leg kicks and lower-body movements cannot be used to gain momentum in the exercise.
  7. The bar must be made of an inflexible matter such as steel, not of a flexible substance such as plastic or tubing. It  may be of any diameter.
  8. The Bar must be level and the height of the hands must be equal in relation and equal in height to where the chin crosses the bar.
  9. The width of the grip can be of the athletes choosing, however hands can not be overlapped.

WORLD RECORDS:  1 MINUTE

37
Jean-François Huette (FRA) 24 Aug 1996 Festival des Records, Le Tour Blanche pull-ups
40
Robert Natoli (USA)
4 Feb 2006 in Oswego, New York (USA) chin-ups
42
Stephen Hyland (GBR)  7 Mar 2006
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
44
Robert Natoli (USA)
10 Feb 2007
in Oswego, New York (USA) chin-ups
46
Matthew Bogdanowicz (USA) DETAILS AND VIDEO 25 Oct 2007
at Fitness Together in Livermore, California (USA)
pull-ups
Note: There is a new unverified record claims by Sean Cole (GBR, 47 chin-ups).
Stanford Apseloff (USA) did 50 "leg-assisted" pull-ups in one minute (with leg kicks for gaining momentum) on 28 June 2007.

WORLD RECORDS:  3 MINUTES

100
Ngo Xuan Chuyen (VIE)
1988
"Strongest Soldier in Viet Nam" contest
pull-ups

WORLD RECORDS:  30 MINUTES

318
Jean-François Huette (FRA)  9 Aug 1996 in La Châtre pull-ups
379
379
Rémy Vidal (FRA)
Guy Schott (USA)
20 Dec 2004
22 Oct 2005

at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa
pull-ups
pull-ups
418
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 7 Mar 2006
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
433
Matthew Bogdanowicz (USA) 26 Mar 2006
in Livermore, California
pulll-ups
442
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 13 March 2007
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
457
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 24 Oct 2007
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
The first chin-up record were 237 by John Corcoran (CAN) on 29 November 2004 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
On 7 Jan 2007, Stephen Hyland did 430 chin-ups which was a record for chin-ups at this time.
There is a new record claim for pull-ups (435) by Noel Ecochard (FRA) (not yet confirmed)
On 12 February 2008, Stephen Hyland (GBR) did 440 pull-ups which was a record for the most pull-ups in 30 minutes.

WORLD RECORDS:  1 HOUR

587 Jean-François Huette (FRA) 20 Sept 1996 in Dury pull-ups
644
Guy Schott (USA)
22 Oct 2005
at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa
pull-ups
670
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 21 Dec 2005
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
701
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 19 Jan 2006
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
767 Stephen Hyland (GBR)  7 Jan 2007
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
812
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 18 Oct 2007
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups
825
Stephen Hyland (GBR) 12 Feb 2008
in Stoneleigh, Surrey pull-ups
records for pull ups:
730 by Stephen Hyland on 21 November 2007 in Stoneleigh, Surrey
787 by Stephen Hyland on 24 December 2007 in Stoneleigh, Surrey

WORLD RECORDS: 6 HOURS

2,456 Guy Schott (USA) 28 April 2007
at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa pull-ups
2,968 Stephen Hyland (GBR) 24 June 2007
in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups

WORLD RECORDS:  12 HOURS

1,773
John Corcoran (CAN)
26 May 2005
at The Athletic Club in Thunder Bay
chin-ups
2,222
Stephen Hyland (GBR)
9 Nov 2005
in Stoneleigh, Surrey
chin-ups
2,409
Jason Armstrong (USA) DETAILS 11-12 Nov 2006
Gymnastics Plus in Southlake, Texas pull-ups
3,116
Guy Schott (USA)
(attempt ended after nine and a half hours, leaving the rest of the time unused)
28 April 2007
at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa pull-ups
3,750
Stephen Hyland (GBR)
(attempt ended after 8:03 hours, leaving the rest of the time unused)
24 June 2007 in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups

WORLD RECORDS:  24 HOURS

3,750
Stephen Hyland (GBR)
(attempt ended after 8:03 hours, leaving the rest of the time unused)
24 June 2007 in Stoneleigh, Surrey chin-ups

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCES

A list of historical performances can be found here.

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