The world record progression 3000 m speed skating men as recognised by the International Skating Union:
| Name | Result | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
 Clas Thunberg | 5:19.2 | 8 January 1932 | Davos |
 Michael Staksrud | 4:59.1 | 25 February 1933 | Hamar |
| Ivar Ballangrud | 4:49.6 | 29 January 1935 | Davos |
 Åke Seyffarth | 4:45.7 | 3 February 1942 | Davos |
 Anton Huiskes | 4:40.2 | 24 January 1953 | Davos |
| Knut Johannesen | 4:33.9 | 12 January 1963 | Tønsberg |
| Ivar Eriksen | 4:33.0 | 28 February 1963 | Oslo |
| Jonny Nilsson | 4:27.6 | 23 March 1963 | Tolga |
 Ants Antson | 4:27.3 | 11 February 1964 | Oslo |
| Rudie Liebrechts | 4:26.8 | 25 February 1965 | Oslo |
| Ard Schenk | 4:26.2 | 29 January 1966 | Inzell |
| Ard Schenk | 4:18.4 | 25 February 1967 | Inzell |
| Fred Anton Maier | 4:17.5 | 7 March 1968 | Inzell |
| Dag Fornæss | 4:17.4 | 28 January 1969 | Misurina |
| Jan Bols | 4:16.4 | 27 January 1970 | Misurina |
| Ard Schenk | 4:12.6 | 15 January 1971 | Davos |
| Ard Schenk | 4:08.3 | 2 March 1972 | Inzell |
 Eric Heiden | 4:07.01 | 2 March 1978 | Inzell |
| Eric Heiden | 4:06.91 | 18 March 1979 | Savalen |
| Dmitry Ogloblin | 4:04.06 | 28 March 1979 | Medeo |
 André Hoffmann | 4:03.31 | 12 January 1985 | Davos |
| Viktor Shasherin | 4:03.22 | 18 January 1986 | Davos |
| Leo Visser | 3:59.27 | 19 March 1987 | Heerenveen |
| Johann Olav Koss | 3:57.52 | 13 March 1990 | Heerenveen |
| Thomas Bos | 3:56.16 | 3 April 1992 | Calgary |
| Bob de Jong | 3:53.06 | 8 March 1996 | Calgary |
| Jelmer Beulenkamp | 3:52.67 | 25 February 1998 | Heerenveen |
 Bart Veldkamp | 3:48.91 | 21 March 1998 | Calgary |
 Steven Elm | 3:45.23 | 19 March 1999 | Calgary |
| Steven Elm | 3:43.76 | 17 March 2000 | Calgary |
| Gianni Romme | 3:42.75 | 11 August 2000 | Calgary |
| Chad Hedrick | 3:39.02 | 10 March 2005 | Calgary |
| Eskil Ervik | 3:37.28 | 5 November 2005 | Calgary |