General simple criteria to predict and analyze the influence on trickle-bed reactors behavior of three phenomena, namely, plug flow deviations, external wetting efficiency and external mass transfer resistance, are developed. Criteria predictions are compared with results arising from a comprehensive mathematical model widely employed to describe trickle-bed reactors behavior and with other particular criteria reported in the literature. Present criteria applications to different sets of experimental data exemplify their practical utility for various actual situations and verify their validity. Besides, they constitute simple tools to diagnose detrimental effects on trickle-bed reactors operation.