World Records

The topic of toppling dominoes is often brought to the public’s attention in the form of world record attempts. Every edition of the TV show Domino Day, for example, presented huge domino projects trying to break the world record for the most dominoes toppled by a group. However, the internationally renowned record agency Guinness World Records (GWR) offers many more exciting disciplines on the subject, among which the most prominent are listed on this page as an overview. Since GWR only provides limited information on their public website, I added a small description of the disciplines and their rules on this page as far as I know them. If you aim for breaking one of these records, the exact rule set has to be requested from GWR manually by registering an official attempt. The signpost icon next to each title brings you to the respective subpage of GWR, which shows you the details of the current world record number and holder as well as options for submitting your application.

Dominoes are ready to get toppled in an attempt of breaking the world record for the most dominoes toppled in a spiral.

The Classics

This is arguably one of the most famous world records with dominoes as it has been broken numerous times on the TV show Domino Day. It is for the highest number of standard dominoes toppled in a chain reaction while there is neither a limit to the number of people nor the amount of time required to set them all up. While the chain reaction may also contain other physical mechanisms to topple the dominoes, the use of any form of electricity within the chain reaction is prohibited. Since all dominoes in the assemblage must not be touched anymore once the initial pushover was applied, the building area of builder’s challenges does not count towards the overall total of toppled dominoes.

This world record is for the highest number of standard dominoes toppled in a chain reaction with the additional requirement that the assemblage must have been set up by a single person. As a result, the building process must be constantly supervised by officials to ensure that no other person participates. Other than that, the rules are similar to the ones for the group record with no time limit for setting everything up, only one pushover to start the chain reaction, and no electrical mechanisms as part of the project.

This world record is for the most number of standard dominoes set up and toppled within a single minute. Additionally, the building area is restricted to a rectangular space of 42 x 29.7 cm (16.5 x 11.7 in), and contestants may only use one hand to move flatly-lying dominoes from outside this area to an upright position inside this area. Afterwards, all dominoes have to be toppled before the minute is over.

Dominoes in Specific Stacking Structures

This world record is for the longest domino wall set up by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. The wall must be built with standard dominoes and have a minimum height of one meter (3.28 ft). To demonstrate that no adhesives were used, the wall has to topple from one end to the other after a single pushover. While the number of dominoes used is typically an interesting figure as well, the record itself is only based on the distance covered by the wall.

This world record is for the most standard dominoes set up and toppled in a 2D-pyramid formation by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. It is similar to the world record for the longest domino wall but adds the requirement that each layer has to contain exactly one domino less than the previous one until there is only a single domino left.

This world record is for the most standard dominoes set up and toppled in a 3D-pyramid formation by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time.

This world record is for the tallest structure made of standard dominoes by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. While there is no specific requirement for the exact building technique used, world record structures typically feature a larger base while becoming more narrow towards the top. While the number of dominoes used is typically an interesting figure as well, the record itself is only based on the height of the assemblage from ground to top.

This world record is for most standard dominoes placed horizontally on the top of a single vertical one by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. Afterwards, the stack must remain standing for at least one hour and then be toppled by hand to demonstrate that no adhesives were used. More information on the history of this discipline can be found here. Additionally, there is also a one-minute version of this world record.

Dominoes in Specific Flat Arrangements

This world record is for the most standard dominoes set up and toppled in a spiral formation by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. To decrease toppling time, it is allowed to topple several turns of the spiral at once as long as the chain reaction originates from a single pushover. As with other disciplines no electrical mechanisms may be used to topple dominoes.

This world record is for the most standard dominoes set up and toppled in a circle field formation by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. The pushover must be affected in the center of the circle. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used to topple dominoes.

This world record is for the most dominoes set up and toppled in a pool of water by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. While the dominoes must all have standard dimensions, their weight is typically higher to make them stand more firmly underwater. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used to topple dominoes.

This world record is for the longest time keeping a circular line of standard dominoes running by a team. For this discipline, each participant is typically assigned a fixed sector of the circle and is responsible for setting up the corresponding dominoes every time they topple such that a continuous chain reaction emerges. The attempt concludes when the toppling domino line comes to a stop.

This world record is about finding an arrangement of standard dominoes that achieves the smallest time for covering a distance of 30m (98.4 ft). Prior attempts have shown that the T-setting is a good candidate for this record, but its exact speed varies depending on the thoroughness of the setup. The record is awarded for the fastest average speed as computed by distance divided by time. There is no limit to the number of people or the amount of time required for building.

Dominoes in Different Sizes and Altitudes

This world record is for the largest domino produced and toppled in a chain reaction. The domino must have the same aspect ratio as standard dominoes, and the chain reaction must start with at least one domino of standard dimensions. This requires several intermediate dominoes where each is slightly larger than the previous one. There is no limit to the number of people or the amount of time required for building.

This world record is for the highest distance climbed by a domino line using stairs without any other physical mechanisms. There is no limit to the number of people or the amount of time required for building.

This world record is for the most mini dominoes set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. A mini domino is defined to be of dimensions 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.2 cm (0.39 x 0.20 x 0.08 in). As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used to topple dominoes.

Other Items Repurposed as Dominoes

This world record is for the most coins set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. This is especially challenging as coins might easily roll away during building. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most wooden sticks arranged and toppled in the form of a stick bomb. For this, the sticks are woven together under a bending moment such that a chain reaction emerges when the force is released at one end. As with other disciplines, the chain reaction must originate from a single location, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most conventional mousetraps triggered in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, the chain reaction must start from a single location, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most disc cases set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. Disc cases might be quadratic CD cases or rectangular DVD cases. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most books set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage. Another world record is awarded for the most books toppled in one hour.

This world record is for the most laptops set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used for toppling.

This world record is for the most bricks set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most construction blocks set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most pallets set up and toppled in a chain reaction by an arbitrary amount of people in an arbitrary amount of time. As with other disciplines, only one pushover is permitted, and no electrical mechanisms may be used in the assemblage.

This world record is for the most seated humans lined up and “toppled” in a chain reaction. Nobody in the assemblage is allowed to act individually and must only lean back when touched by the front person.

This world record is for the most humans with an air-bed lined up and toppled in a domino fashion. Nobody in the assemblage is allowed to act individually and must only fall with their air-bed when touched by the front person.

This world record is for the most humans with a mattress lined up and toppled in a domino fashion. Nobody in the assemblage is allowed to act individually and must only fall with their mattress when touched by the front person.