What makes a Guinness World Records title?
Guinness World Records documents and celebrates superlative achievements that are the best in the world. Record breaking is a serious business, which means we have strict policies governing what constitutes a Guinness World Records title in order to maintain these high standards. Here is an overview of the considerations at the heart of any record assessment.
What is a Guinness World Records title?
Each record title must fulfil all of the following criteria. They must be:
- Measurable – Can it be measured objectively? What is the unit of measurement? We do not accept applications based on subjective variables. For example - beauty, kindness, loyalty.
- Breakable – Can the record be broken? Our record titles must be open to being challenged.
- Standardisable - Can the record be repeated by someone else? Is it possible to create a set of parameters and conditions that all challengers can follow?
- Verifiable - Can the claim be proven? Will there be accurate evidence available to prove it occurred?
- Based on one variable - Is the record based on one superlative and measured in one unit of measurement?
- The best in the world - Has anyone else done better? If your record suggestion is new then Guinness World Records will set a challenging minimum requirement for you to beat.
We assess all new record titles against our values of integrity, respect, inclusiveness and passion. As such, we have a number of internal policies that all records must adhere to. For example we do not endorse:
- Unsuitable activities or those which could cause potential harm or danger to spectators.
- Any records that endanger or harm animals.
- Excessive eating. All of our eating records are limited to short time periods and small quantities of food, such as fastest time to eat three cream crackers.
- Food wastage. We require any record relating to food to follow strict policies regarding food consumption and donation.
- Any record involving the consumption of alcohol as part of drinking contests, binge drinking or speed drinking.
- Illegal activities in pursuit of record breaking.
- People under the age of 16 to attempt or hold records which are considered unsuitable for minors.
Our policies are regularly reviewed and updated in collaboration with expert organisations and based on feedback from our readers.
