Goal of this work was to study the effect of sample weight and temperature on the microbial respiration indices of a static microbial respiration test used to quantify compost stability. The static respiration tests (SRT) were performed at two different temperatures (20 degrees C and 35 degrees C) using five different sample weights (19, 38, 56, 75 and 94 dry g). Results showed that at 35 degrees C, as sample weight increased, the magnitude of the respiration indices reduced. In addition, the 35 degrees C temperature resulted in higher static respiration activity indices compared to that at the 20 degrees C for two sample weights. The static respiration tests led to 2-2.5 times lower oxygen-related indices compared to those calculated in dynamic respiration tests (DRT); the 7-day CO2 cumulative generations were, however, almost similar for both types of tests. Respiratory quotients (RQs) were constantly between 0.8 to 1.2 during the SRT. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.