Research has been conducted in high phase order (HPO) power transmission wherein 6 or 12 phases are used to transmit power in less physical space and with reduced environmental effects than conventional designs. In this paper, existing 3-phase double circuit transmission lines (TL) are reconfigured to 6-phase systems for the purpose of calculating and comparing the magnetic field of both systems. The magnetic field of several single-phase configurations; flat, vertical, delta and inverted-delta with the same degree of compaction is calculated and analysed at I m height above the ground level. The magnetic field of the inverted-delta arrangement, which showed the lowest field profile, is compared with the magnetic field of 6- and 12-phase TLs having the same degree of line compaction and current loading conditions. The three systems are analysed when their lowest conductors had the same clearance to ground in one case and when their highest conductor positions were matched in another case. A comparison between 12-, 6- and 3-phase double circuit TLs having the same degree of compaction, the same phase voltage, the same clearance to ground and the same current per conductor is made to demonstrate if HPO ones reduce fields or not. The 6- and 12-phase lines are raised while keeping their conductors within the space, which would be taken by the conductors of the double circuit line. In this case, the highest conductor positions of the two systems are matched and the magnetic field is recomputed to conclude the results. The vector magnetic field potential concept, as extended to HPO transmission lines, together with a flexible developed computer program are used to calculate and present the magnetic flux density components profiles around the mentioned systems. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.