The rate coefficient, k 1 , for the gas-phase reaction OH + CH 3 CHO (acetaldehyde) → products, was measured over the temperature range 204-373 K using pulsed laser photolytic production of OH coupled with its detection via laser-induced fluorescence. The CH 3 CHO concentration was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV absorption at 184.9 nm and gas flow rates. The room temperature rate coefficient and Arrhenius expression obtained are k 1 (296 K) = (1.52 ± 0.15) × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 and k 1 (T ) = (5.32 ± 0.55) × 10 −12 exp[(315 ± 40)/T] cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . The rate coefficient for the reaction OH (ν = 1) + CH 3 CHO, k 7 (T) (where k 7 is the rate coefficient for the overall removal of OH (ν = 1)), was determined over the temperature range 204-296 K and is given by k 7 (T) = (3.5 ± 1.4) × 10 −12 exp[(500 ± 90)/T], where k 7 (296 K) = (1.9 ± 0.6) × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . The quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level). The preexponential term and the room temperature rate coefficient include estimated systematic errors. k 7 is slightly larger than k 1 over the range of temperatures included in this study. The results from this study were found to be in good agreement with previously reported values of k 1 (T) for temperatures <298 K. An expression for k 1 (T), suitable for use in atmospheric models, in the NASA/JPL and IUPAC format, was determined by combining the present results with previously reported values and was found to be k 1 (298 K) = 1.5 × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , f (298 K) = 1.1, E/R = 340 K, and E/R (or g) = 20 K over the temperature range relevant to the atmosphere. C 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 635-646, 2008