The ultimate guide to record-breaking rollercoasters: Fastest, tallest and most expensive

Published 29 July 2024

A split image of rollercoasters Superman: Escape from Krypton and Wonder Woman Flight of Courage

This article was updated on 14 August 2025.

Whether it’s the tallest, fastest, most expensive or has the most loops, there are plenty of record-breaking rollercoasters around the world to keep thrill seekers entertained.

We’ve delved deep into the Guinness World Records archive to bring you the ultimate guide to record-breaking rollercoasters.

How many have you ridden?

Fastest rollercoaster

Name: Formula Rossa

Location: Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Formula Rossa can accelerate up to 240 km/h (149.1 mph) in just 4.9 seconds.

It travels 52 m (170.6 ft) upwards at the same time.

It officially opened to the public on 4 November 2010, but at the time of writing is closed until further notice.

Tallest and first strata rollercoaster

Name: Top Thrill 2 (Formerly Top Thrill Dragster)

Location: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA

Top Thrill 2, originally opened under the name Top Thrill Dragster on 4 May 2003, is the world’s tallest rollercoaster and first strata rollercoaster.

It meaures 128 m (420 ft) tall.

Top Thrill 2 reponed in May 2025 after an extended closure.

Tallest single-rail rollercoaster

Name: Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, USA

Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage is 39.92 m (131 ft) tall.

It opened to the public on 16 July 2022 and became the 20^th active coaster in the park, meaning the park also earned the record for most rollercoasters in a theme park.

The park has a total of four record-breaking coasters within its walls right now.

It’s also home to Tatsu (tallest flying), Riddler’s Revenge (tallest stand-up), and…

Tallest shuttle rollercoaster

Name: Superman: Escape from Krypton

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, USA

Superman: Escape from Krypton, which opened in 1997, measures in at 126.5 m (415 ft) tall.

Fastest vertical launch rollercoaster

Name: The Storm Coaster

Location: Dubai Hills Mall in Dubai, UAE

The Storm Coaster, opened inside the Dubai Hills Mall on 17 February 2022, has a vertical launch speed of 41 km/h (25.48mph).

Tallest and fastest inverted rollercoaster

Name: Legendary Twin Dragon

Location: Chongqing Sunac Land in Shapingba, Chongqing, China

Legendary Twin Dragon, opened on 3 February 2021, stands at 69.9 m (229 ft 7 in) at its highest point.

It’s also the fastest rollercoaster of its kind with a top speed of 118.9 km/h (73.9 mph).

First giga rollercoaster

Name: Millennium Force

Location: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA

Millennium Force was the first rollercoaster of its kind when it opened to the public on 13 May 2000.

A giga rollercoaster has to have a complete circuit with no stops in the track from the start of the ride to the finish and it has to reach in the range of 91.4-121.6 m (300-399 ft) in height.

Millennium Force is 94.4 m (310 ft) tall.

Most track inversions in a rollercoaster

Name: The Smiler

Location: Alton Towers in Staffordshire, UK

The Smiler has a total of 14 track inversions.

It opened to the public on 31 May 2013.

Most expensive rollercoaster

Name: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Location: Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA

This rollercoaster based on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise cost $500,000,000 (£370.5 million) to make.

It was the first attraction at Walt Disney World based on characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Opened in May 2022, it was also Disney's first backwards-launched rollercoaster.

Steepest rollercoaster made from steel

Name: TMNT Shellraiser

Location: Nickelodeon Universe in Rutherford, New Jersey, USA

TMNT Shellraiser, opened on 25 October 2019, features a 43 m (141 ft) vertical lift hill that descends on a slope that curves at an angle of 121.5 degrees.