The effective thermal conductivity of a metal hydride packed bed was calculated by considering the influence of expansion during hydrogen absorption and contraction during hydrogen desorption. The porosity was calculated using an experimental formula developed by direct observation, which was used in combination with other referenced methods. However, none of the methods could express the reported experimental value response to pressure change using only the experimental porosity formula. The area contact model was modified so that the porosity and the contact area changed with expansion and contraction. The contact area change was calculated by assuming a simple geometrical deformation caused the difference between the particle expansion and the packed bed expansion. The calculation results of the improved area contact model with the deformed factor and the shape factor were in good agreement with the reported experimental data. This calculation method of the effective thermal conductivity with the influence of expansion and contraction is expected to be useful for designing of heat transfer enhancement of a hydrogen storage tank. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.