Absolute rate coefficients for the title reaction, HO + HOCH2CHO -> products (R1), were measured over the temperature range 240-362 K using the technique of pulsed laser photolytic generation of the HO radical coupled to detection by pulsed laser induced fluorescence. Within experimental error, the rate coefficient, k(1), is independent of temperature over the range covered and is given by k(1)(240-362 K) = (8.0 +/- 0.8) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The effects of the hydroxy substituent and hydrogen bonding on the rate coefficient are discussed based on theoretical calculations. The present results, which extend the database on the title reaction to a range of temperatures, indicate that R1 is the dominant loss process for HOCH2CHO throughout the troposphere. As part of this work, the absorption cross-section of HOCH2CHO at 184.9 nm was determined to be (3.85 +/- 0.2) x 10(-18) cm(2) molecule(-1), and the quantum yield of HO formation from the photolysis of HOCH2CHO at 248 nm was found to be (7.0 +/- 1.5) x 10(-2).