This paper presents a study on the mathematical modelling of bay (Laurus nobilis L) leaves. Drying experiments were performed in a laboratory scale dryer constructed in the Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. The leaves were 90-100mm long and 30-40mm wide, and ones with no blemish were selected and used for the drying tests. The tests were performed with various relative humidities (5%, 15% and 25%) and temperatures (40, 50 and 60 degrees C) at a constant air velocity of 1.5 m/s. Fifteen different mathematical drying models were compared based on their correlation coefficient, root mean square error, mean bias error, reduced chi-square and t-statistic method to estimate the drying curves. It may be concluded that the Page model could sufficiently describe drying of bay leaves. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.