The world record progression 3000 m speed skating men as recognised by the International Skating Union:
| Name | Result | Date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:19.2 | 8 January 1932 | Davos | ||
| 4:59.1 | 25 February 1933 | Hamar | ||
| 4:49.6 | 29 January 1935 | Davos | ||
| 4:45.7 | 3 February 1942 | Davos | ||
| 4:40.2 | 24 January 1953 | Davos | ||
| 4:33.9 | 12 January 1963 | Tønsberg | ||
| 4:33.0 | 28 February 1963 | Oslo | ||
| 4:27.6 | 23 March 1963 | Tolga | ||
| 4:27.3 | 11 February 1964 | Oslo | ||
| 4:26.8 | 25 February 1965 | Oslo | ||
| 4:26.2 | 29 January 1966 | Inzell | ||
| 4:18.4 | 25 February 1967 | Inzell | ||
| 4:17.5 | 7 March 1968 | Inzell | ||
| 4:17.4 | 28 January 1969 | Misurina | ||
| 4:16.4 | 27 January 1970 | Misurina | ||
| 4:12.6 | 15 January 1971 | Davos | ||
| 4:08.3 | 2 March 1972 | Inzell | ||
| 4:07.01 | 2 March 1978 | Inzell | ||
| 4:06.91 | 18 March 1979 | Savalen | ||
| 4:04.06 | 28 March 1979 | Medeo | ||
| 4:03.31 | 12 January 1985 | Davos | ||
| 4:03.22 | 18 January 1986 | Davos | ||
| 3:59.27 | 19 March 1987 | Heerenveen | ||
| 3:57.52 | 13 March 1990 | Heerenveen | ||
| 3:56.16 | 3 April 1992 | Calgary | ||
| 3:53.06 | 8 March 1996 | Calgary | ||
| 3:52.67 | 25 February 1998 | Heerenveen | ||
| 3:48.91 | 21 March 1998 | Calgary | ||
| 3:45.23 | 19 March 1999 | Calgary | ||
| 3:43.76 | 17 March 2000 | Calgary | ||
| 3:42.75 | 11 August 2000 | Calgary | ||
| 3:39.02 | 10 March 2005 | Calgary | ||
| 3:37.28 | 5 November 2005 | Calgary |