Roller coasters are amusement rides developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. Early iterations during the 16th and 17th centuries, popularized in Russia, involved wooden sleds that carried riders down large slides made from ice. The first roller coasters to attach a train to a wooden track appeared in France in the early 1800s.[1] Although wooden roller coasters are still being produced, steel roller coasters were introduced in the mid-20th-century and eventually became more common. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica.[2]

Amusement parks often compete to build the tallest, fastest, and longest rides to attract thrill seekers and boost park attendance.[3] Ranked by height, speed, length, and number of inversions, roller coasters often became the focal point for competing parks. Computer-simulated models led to innovations that produced more intense thrills while improving quality and durability.[4] The debut of Magnum XL-200 in 1989 at Cedar Point introduced the first complete-circuit roller coaster to exceed 200 feet (61 m) in height,[5][6] marking a pivot point in the industry and a new era sometimes referred to as the Coaster Wars.[4] This period saw increasing competition as parks sought to be the latest to set a new world record, and some records were held for less than a year.[7]

The pace of competition eventually slowed, however.[4][7] The now-defunct Kingda Ka, previously the tallest coaster in the world at 456 feet (139 m),[8] held the height record from 2005 until its closure in 2024.[4][7] Formula Rossa, formerly the world's fastest at 149 mph (240 km/h), held the speed record for 15 years.[9] Steel Dragon 2000, with its track length of 8,133 feet (2,479 m), was the longest in the world for more than 25 years. These records were eventually surpassed by Falcons Flight in 2025, which opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world. Other notables include The Beast, the world's longest wooden coaster since its opening in 1979, featuring a track length of 7,361 feet (2,244 m),[10] and The Smiler, which set a world record with fourteen inversions in 2013.[11]

Key

Key
Key Meaning
1 Record holder
** Under construction
* Still exists but not operating

Height rankings

Tallest steel roller coasters

Tallest steel roller coasters[note 2][note 3][note 4][15]
Rank Name Park Country Height Manufacturer Record held
1 Falcons Flight Six Flags Qiddiya City  Saudi Arabia 534.8 ft (163.0 m)[note 5] Intamin 31 December 2025 – present
2 Top Thrill 2 Cedar Point  United States 420 ft (130 m) Intamin/Zamperla 4 May 2003 – 21 May 2005,
3 May 2025 – 31 December 2025
3 Red Force Ferrari Land  Spain 367.3 ft (112.0 m) Intamin 10 November 2024 – 3 May 2025
4 Fury 325 Carowinds  United States 325 ft (99 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
5 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land  Japan 318.3 ft (97.0 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing —N/a
6 Millennium Force Cedar Point  United States 310 ft (94 m) Intamin —N/a
** Tormenta Rampaging Run Six Flags Over Texas  United States 309 ft (94 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
7 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland  Canada 306 ft (93 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
8 Pantherian Kings Dominion  United States 305 ft (93 m) Intamin —N/a
9 Orion Kings Island  United States 287 ft (87 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
10 Thunder Dolphin Tokyo Dome City  Japan 262.5 ft (80.0 m) Intamin —N/a

Longest steel roller coaster drops

Longest steel roller coaster drops[note 6][note 4][17]
Rank Name Park Country Drop length Manufacturer Record held
1 Falcons Flight Six Flags Qiddiya City  Saudi Arabia 518.4 ft (158.0 m) Intamin 31 December 2025 – present
2 Top Thrill 2 Cedar Point  United States 400 ft (120 m) Intamin/Zamperla 4 May 2003 – 21 May 2005,
3 May 2025 – 31 December 2025
3 Red Force Ferrari Land  Spain ~345 ft (105 m)[note 7] Intamin 10 November 2024 – 3 May 2025
4 Fury 325 Carowinds  United States 320 ft (98 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
5 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land  Japan 306.8 ft (93.5 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing —N/a
6 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland  Canada 306 ft (93 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
7 Millennium Force Cedar Point  United States 300 ft (91 m) Intamin —N/a
Orion Kings Island  United States 300 ft (91 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
Pantherian Kings Dominion  United States 300 ft (91 m) Intamin —N/a
** Tormenta Rampaging Run Six Flags Over Texas  United States 285 ft (87 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
10 Hyperion Energylandia Poland 269 ft (82 m) Intamin —N/a

Tallest wooden roller coasters

Tallest wooden roller coasters[note 8][note 8][21]
Rank Name Park Country Height Manufacturer Record held
1 T Express Everland  South Korea 183.8 ft (56.0 m) Intamin 16 June 2009 – present
Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park  Sweden 183.8 ft (56.0 m) Rocky Mountain Construction 28 June 2016 – present
3 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure  United States 181 ft (55 m) Intamin —N/a
4 Goliath Six Flags Great America  United States 165 ft (50 m) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
5 Colossos - Kampf der Giganten Heide Park  Germany 164 ft (50 m) Intamin —N/a
6 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari  United States 159 ft (48 m) The Gravity Group —N/a
7 Jupiter Kijima Kogen  Japan 137.8 ft (42.0 m) Intamin —N/a
8 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park  United States 136 ft (41 m) The Gravity Group —N/a
9 Wodan Timbur Coaster Europa-Park  Germany 131.2 ft (40.0 m) Great Coasters International —N/a
10 Le Monstre La Ronde  Canada 130.9 ft (39.9 m) Martin & Vleminckx 20 July 1985 – 17 March 1990

Longest wooden roller coaster drops

Longest wooden roller coaster drops[note 8][note 8][note 8][24]
Rank Name Park Country Drop length Manufacturer Record held
1 Goliath Six Flags Great America  United States 180 ft (55 m) Rocky Mountain Construction 18 June 2014 – present
2 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure  United States 176 ft (54 m) Intamin June 2009 – 18 June 2014
3 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City  United States 162 ft (49 m) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
4 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park  Sweden 160.8 ft (49.0 m) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
5 Colossos - Kampf der Giganten Heide Park  Germany 159.1 ft (48.5 m) Intamin —N/a
6 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari  United States 154 ft (47 m) The Gravity Group —N/a
7 T Express Everland  South Korea 150.9 ft (46.0 m) Intamin —N/a
8 The Boss Six Flags St. Louis  United States 150 ft (46 m) Custom Coasters International —N/a
9 American Eagle Six Flags Great America  United States 147 ft (45 m) Intamin 23 May 1981 – 22 May 1991
10 The Beast Kings Island  United States 141 ft (43 m) Kings Island 14 April 1979 – 23 May 1981

Speed rankings

Fastest steel roller coasters

Fastest steel roller coasters[note 9][note 10][note 11][27]
Rank Name Park Country Speed Manufacturer Record held
1 Falcons Flight Six Flags Qiddiya City  Saudi Arabia 155.3 mph (249.9 km/h) Intamin 31 December 2025 – present
2 Formula Rossa Ferrari World Abu Dhabi  United Arab Emirates 149.1 mph (240.0 km/h) Intamin 10 November 2010 – 31 December 2025
3 Top Thrill 2 Cedar Point  United States 120 mph (190 km/h) Intamin/Zamperla 4 May 2003 – 21 May 2005
4 Red Force Ferrari Land  Spain 111.8 mph (179.9 km/h) Intamin —N/a
5 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land  Japan 95 mph (153 km/h) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing —N/a
Fury 325 Carowinds  United States 95 mph (153 km/h) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
6 Millennium Force Cedar Point  United States 93 mph (150 km/h) Intamin —N/a
7 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland  Canada 92 mph (148 km/h) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
8 Orion Kings Island  United States 91 mph (146 km/h) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
9 Pantherian Kings Dominion  United States 90 mph (140 km/h) Intamin —N/a

Fastest wooden roller coasters

Fastest wooden roller coasters[note 8][note 12][29]
Rank Name Park Country Speed Manufacturer Record held
1 Goliath Six Flags Great America  United States 72 mph (116 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction 19 June 2014 – 13 June 2016,
September 2020 – present
2 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park  Sweden 71.5 mph (115.1 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
3 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure  United States 70.0 mph (112.7 km/h) Intamin 16 June 2009 – 19 June 2014
4 Colossos - Kampf der Giganten Heide Park  Germany 68.4 mph (110.1 km/h) Intamin —N/a
5 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City  United States 68 mph (109 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
6 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari  United States 67 mph (108 km/h) The Gravity Group —N/a
7 The Boss Six Flags St. Louis  United States 66.3 mph (106.7 km/h) Custom Coasters International 29 April 2000 – May 2000
8 American Eagle Six Flags Great America  United States 66 mph (106 km/h) Intamin 23 May 1981 – 29 April 2000
9 The Beast Kings Island  United States 64.8 mph (104.3 km/h) Kings Island 14 April 1979 – 23 May 1981
10 T Express Everland  South Korea 64.6 mph (104.0 km/h) Intamin —N/a

Length rankings

Longest steel roller coasters

Longest steel roller coasters[note 13][31]
Rank Name Park Country Length Manufacturer Record held
1 Falcons Flight Six Flags Qiddiya City  Saudi Arabia 13,944 ft (4,250 m) Intamin 31 December 2025 – present
2 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land  Japan 8,133 ft (2,479 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing 1 August 2000 – 31 December 2025
3 Formula Rossa Ferrari World Abu Dhabi  United Arab Emirates 6,805 ft (2,074 m) Intamin —N/a
4 Fujiyama Fuji-Q Highland  Japan 6,709 ft (2,045 m) TOGO —N/a
5 Fury 325 Carowinds  United States 6,602 ft (2,012 m) Bolliger & Mabillard —N/a
6 Millennium Force Cedar Point  United States 6,595 ft (2,010 m) Intamin —N/a
7 Incredicoaster Disney California Adventure  United States 6,072 ft (1,851 m) Intamin —N/a
* Desperado Buffalo Bill's  United States 5,843 ft (1,781 m) Arrow Dynamics —N/a
8 Steel Vengeance Cedar Point  United States 5,740 ft (1,750 m) Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
9 Mamba Worlds of Fun  United States 5,600 ft (1,707 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing —N/a
Steel Force Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom  United States 5,600 ft (1,707 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing —N/a

Longest wooden roller coasters

Longest wooden roller coasters[32]
Rank Name Park Country Length Manufacturer Record held
1 The Beast Kings Island  United States 7,361 ft (2,244 m) Kings Island April 14 1979 – present
2 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari  United States 6,442 ft (1,964 m) The Gravity Group —N/a
3 T Express Everland  South Korea 5,383.8 ft (1,641.0 m) Intamin —N/a
4 Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure  United States 5,383 ft (1,641 m) Custom Coasters International —N/a
5 Jupiter Kijima Amusement Park  Japan 5,249 ft (1,600 m) Intamin —N/a
6 Python in Bamboo Forest Nanchang Sunac Land  China 5,111 ft (1,558 m) Great Coasters International —N/a
7 Wood Coaster Knight Valley  China 4,817 ft (1,468 m) Great Coasters International —N/a
8 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park  United States 4,746 ft (1,447 m) The Gravity Group —N/a
9 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce  United States 4,725 ft (1,440 m) Custom Coasters International —N/a
10 American Eagle Six Flags Great America  United States 4,650 ft (1,420 m) Intamin —N/a

Inversion rankings

This listing contains all types of roller coaster inversions.

Steel roller coasters

Most inversions on a steel roller coaster[note 14][note 15][33]
Rank Name Park Country Inversions Manufacturer Record held
1 The Smiler Alton Towers  United Kingdom 14 Gerstlauer 31 May 2013 – present
* Eleventh Roller Coaster Great Xingdong Tourist World  China 11 Hebei Zhongye —N/a
2 Altair Cinecittà World  Italy 10 Intamin —N/a
Colossus Thorpe Park  United Kingdom Intamin 22 March 2002 – 31 May 2013
Crazy Coaster Locajoy Holiday  China Intamin —N/a
Velikolukskiy Myasokombinat-2 Wonder Island  Russia Intamin —N/a
Sik Flamingo Land  United Kingdom Intamin —N/a
*
LightSpeed Wonderland Eurasia  Turkey 10 Intamin —N/a
7 AlpenFury Canada's Wonderland  Canada 9 Premier Rides —N/a
8 Avalancha Xetulul  Guatemala 8 Intamin —N/a
Dragon Khan PortAventura Park  Spain Bolliger & Mabillard 2 May 1995 – 22 March 2002
Steel Curtain Kennywood  United States S&S - Sansei Technologies —N/a

Wooden roller coasters

Most inversions on a wooden roller coaster[note 16][34]
Rank Name Park Country Inversions Manufacturer Record held
1 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City  United States 3 Rocky Mountain Construction 13 March 2013 – present
Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park  Sweden Rocky Mountain Construction 28 June 2016 – present
2 Goliath Six Flags Great America  United States 2 Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
3 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park  United States 1 The Gravity Group —N/a
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Ningbo  China Martin & Vleminckx Rides —N/a
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Wuhu  China Martin & Vleminckx Rides —N/a
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Jinan  China Martin & Vleminckx Rides —N/a
Mine Blower Fun Spot America: Kissimmee  United States The Gravity Group —N/a

Drop angle rankings

Steel roller coasters

Steepest drop angle on a steel roller coaster[35]
Rank Name Park Country Drop angle Manufacturer Record held
1 TMNT Shellraiser Nickelodeon Universe  United States 121.5° Gerstlauer 25 October 2019 – present
2 Takabisha Fuji-Q Highland  Japan 121.0° Gerstlauer 15 July 2011 – 25 October 2019
3 Green Lantern Coaster Warner Bros. Movie World  Australia 120.5° S&S Worldwide —N/a
4 Crazy Bird Happy Valley Tianjin  China 120.0° S&S Worldwide —N/a
5 Cannibal Lagoon  United States 116.0° Lagoon Corporation —N/a
6 Timber Drop Fraispertuis City  France 113.0° S&S Worldwide 12 July 2011 – 15 July 2011
7 Mumbo Jumbo Flamingo Land Resort  United Kingdom 112.0° S&S Worldwide 4 July 2009 – 12 July 2011
8 Steel Hawg Indiana Beach  United States 111.0° S&S Worldwide 5 July 2008 – 4 July 2009
9 Defiance Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park  United States 102.3° Gerstlauer —N/a
10 Monster Adventureland  United States 101.0° Gerstlauer —N/a
Toutatis Parc Astérix  France Intamin —N/a

Wooden roller coasters

Steepest drop angle on a wooden roller coaster[36]
Rank Name Park Country Drop angle Manufacturer Record held
* Switchback ZDT's Amusement Park  United States 87.0° The Gravity Group 17 October 2015 – 17 August 2025
1 Goliath Six Flags Great America  United States 85.0° Rocky Mountain Construction 19 June 2014 – 17 October 2015,

17 August 2025 – present

2 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park  Sweden 83.0° Rocky Mountain Construction —N/a
3 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City  United States 81.0° Rocky Mountain Construction 15 March 2013 – 19 June 2014
4 T Express Everland  South Korea 77.0° Intamin 14 March 2008 – 15 March 2013
5 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure  United States 76.0° Intamin 12 June 2006 – 14 March 2008
6 Balder Liseberg  Sweden 70.0° Intamin 12 April 2003 – 12 June 2006
7 Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari  United States 66.0° The Gravity Group —N/a
8 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park  United States 65.0° The Gravity Group —N/a
Cú Chulainn Emerald Park  Ireland The Gravity Group —N/a
10 Hala Madrid Real Madrid World  United Arab Emirates 63.9° Great Coasters International —N/a

Notes

  1. A shuttle roller coaster, not complete-circuit
  2. Record was held by Tower of Terror [note 1] from 23 January 1997 – 15 March 1997, featuring a height of 377 feet (115 m) and drop distance of 328.1 feet (100.0 m).[12][13]
  3. Record was held by Superman: The Escape[note 1] from 15 March 1997 – 4 May 2003, with a height of 415 feet (126 m).[14]
  4. Record was held by Kingda Ka from 21 May 2005 – 10 November 2024, featuring a height of 456 feet (139 m) and a drop distance of 418 feet (127 m).[8]
  5. Falcons Flight has been advertised with a height of 640 feet (200 m). This is the difference from the highest point to lowest point. Tallest freestanding element is the 534.8 feet (163.0 m) camelback hill.[16]
  6. Record was held by Tower of Terror[note 1] from 23 January 1997 – 4 May 2003 and Superman: The Escape[note 1] from 15 March 1997 – 4 May 2003, both of which featured a drop distance of 328.1 feet (100.0 m).[12][14]
  7. Drop height estimated at 345 ft (105 m) according to TripSavvy.[18]
  8. Record was held by Texas Giant from 17 March 1990 – 28 April 2000. It had a height of 143 feet (44 m), a drop distance of 137 feet (42 m) and a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 km/h).[19] Cite error: The named reference "Son of Beast" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. Record was held by Tower of Terror[note 1] from January 1997 – December 2001 and Superman: The Escape[note 1] from 15 March 1997 – December 2001, both of which featured a maximum speed of 100.0 mph (160.9 km/h).[12][25]
  10. Record was held by Dodonpa from 21 December 2001 – 4 May 2003, with a maximum speed of 106.9 mph (172.0 km/h).[26]
  11. Record was held by Kingda Ka from 21 May 2005 – 10 November 2010. It had a maximum speed of 128 mph (206 km/h).[8]
  12. Record was held by Lightning Rod from 13 June 2016 – September 2020, before its conversion into a steel roller coaster. It had a drop distance of 165 feet (50 m) and a maximum speed of 73 mph (117 km/h).[28]
  13. Record was held by The Ultimate from 17 July 1991 – 1 August 2000, with a length of 7,442 feet (2,268 m).[30]
  14. Record was co-held by 10 Inversion Roller Coaster from February 2006 – May 2013, featuring 10 inversions
  15. The Roller Coaster DataBase lists the ride as having eight inversions, since the banana roll is counted as one inversion. Other sources list the ride as having nine inversions, with the banana roll counted as two.
  16. Record was held by Son of Beast from May 2000 – July 2006, which featured 1 inversion. The vertical loop was removed following an incident in July 2006.[20]

References

  1. Harris, Tom. "How Roller Coasters Work". Discovery Communications.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Census Report". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  3. Martín, Hugo (March 13, 2012). "Thrill ride designers compete to push the limits". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "Top Thrill Dragster: The Inside Track on Cedar Point's Landmark Coaster and Potential Final Lap". Theme Park Tourist. March 25, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022.
  5. "It's opening weekend for Cedar Point". Associated Press. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009.
  6. "Magnum XL–200 20th anniversary ceremony". PointBuzz.
  7. Miller, Danny (July 29, 2013). "Battle Resurgence: Are the Coaster Wars back?". COASTER-net. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Formula Rossa (Ferrari World Abu Dhabi)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  10. Marden, Duane. "The Beast (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  11. Marden, Duane. "The Smiler (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Tower of Terror II (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  13. Cite error: The named reference ToT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. Marden, Duane. "Superman: Escape from Krypton (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Height". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Falcons Flight (Six Flags Qiddiya City)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  17. Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Drop". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  18. Levine, Arthur (January 7, 2021). "The 10 Tallest Roller Coasters in the World". TripSavvy. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Texas Giant (Six Flags Over Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  20. Marden, Duane. "Son of Beast (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  21. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Height". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  22. Marden, Duane. "Mean Streak (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  23. Marden, Duane. "Rattler (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  24. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Drop". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  25. Cite error: The named reference ToT2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. Marden, Duane. "Do-Dodonpa (Fuji-Q Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  27. Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  28. Marden, Duane. "Lightning Rod (Dollywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  29. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  30. Marden, Duane. "Ultimate (Lightwater Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  31. Marden, Duane. "Record Holders – Steel – Length". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  32. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Length". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  33. Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Most Inversions". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  34. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Most Inversions". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  35. Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Angle". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  36. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Drop Angle". Roller Coaster DataBase.
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