How high are the hurdles, and how far apart?
Officials' detail · The event and the start · 1 of 2The men's 110 m hurdles are 1.067 m high and 9.14 m apart. The women's 100 m hurdles are 0.838 m high and 8.50 m apart. In the 400 m the hurdles are 35 m apart, at 0.914 m for men and 0.762 m for women. A hurdle is built to tip over when hit with enough force.
How it works
Spacing for men:
| Race | Start to first hurdle | Between hurdles | Last hurdle to finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 m | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 14.02 m |
| 300 m | 50.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 400 m | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
Spacing for women:
| Race | Start to first hurdle | Between hurdles | Last hurdle to finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 300 m | 50.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 400 m | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
Heights:
| Race | Men | Under-20 men | Under-18 men | Women and under-20 women | Under-18 women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 m or 100 m | 1.067 m | 0.991 m | 0.914 m | 0.838 m | 0.762 m |
| 300 m | 0.914 m | 0.914 m | 0.838 m | 0.762 m | 0.762 m |
| 400 m | 0.914 m | 0.914 m | 0.838 m | 0.762 m | 0.762 m |
- Tipping: a force equal to a weight of at least 3.6 kg, pushed against the middle of the top bar, must be needed to tilt the hurdle. The counterweights are set so that it takes between 3.6 kg and 4 kg at each height.
- Which way it faces: the feet of the hurdle are on the side the athlete comes from, so it tips forward when hit.
- Size: 1.18 m to 1.20 m wide, with a base no longer than 0.70 m and a total weight of at least 10 kg.
- The top bar: 70 mm deep, with rounded top edges, painted in white and black stripes or other strongly contrasting colours.
- Tolerance: 3 mm above or below the standard height.
Tricky cases
Will a hurdle fall over if an athlete brushes it?
No, not from a light touch. It takes a push of at least 3.6 kg on the top bar to tilt it.
Are the hurdles in the 400 m the same height as in the 110 m?
No. The men's 400 m hurdle is 0.914 m, against 1.067 m in the 110 m.
Is the gap between hurdles the same for men and women in the 400 m?
Yes. Both run 45 m to the first hurdle, 35 m between hurdles and 40 m to the finish.
Why the rule exists
The spacing sets the stride pattern of the whole race, so it is fixed to the centimetre. The tipping force is a compromise: light enough that a hurdle gives way when an athlete hits it, and heavy enough that hitting hurdles costs speed.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 22.1 to 22.5 |
| Under-20 men's 110 m | Hurdles up to 1.000 m are also accepted because of how they are made | TR 22.3 (note) |
| Results | Where athletes race over different heights in one competition, the results must show it | CR 25.3 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 22.1 to 22.5 and Figure TR22. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).