AbstractA review of research articles dealing with estimation of the rate of gas flow maldistribution in packed‐bed columns is presented. The proposed relations for determination of the maldistribution factor are given along with the conditions at which they are obtained. It is shown that the indices of maldistribution are usually based on particular terms, i.e., variation coefficient, dispersion or standard deviation. However, they cannot be regarded as a single indicator of gas maldistribution if the gas flow irregularities are not homogeneously distributed over the cross‐section. There is no unified methodology for measuring the gas flow velocity profile. Schemes for measuring the velocity profiles, as well as equations for calculating the maldistribution factor are recommended.