The women's 100 metre freestyle event at the 1960 Olympic Games took place between August 26 and 29.

[1] This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated (unlike backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events).

The competition used a three-round (heats, semifinals, final) format.

Five heats were held; the swimmers with the fastest 16 times advanced to the semifinals.

Two semifinal races were held; the fastest eight swimmers advanced to the Final.