Abstract Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of three commercial cultivars, eight experimental cultivars and common bermudagrass to clethodim, glufosinate and glyphosate. Each herbicide was applied at eight doses. Data were regressed on herbicide dose using a log‐logistic curve ( R 2 = 0.56–0.95 for clethodim, R 2 = 0.60–0.94 for glufosinate, and R 2 = 0.70–0.96 for glyphosate). The herbicide rate that elicited a 50% plant response ( I 50 ) in the bermudagrass cultivars ranged from 0.04 to 0.19 kg ha −1 clethodim, 0.19 to 1.33 kg ha −1 glufosinate and 0.34 to 1.14 kg ha −1 glyphosate. Relative to other cultivars, common bermudagrass was intermediate in its response to clethodim and among the most tolerant cultivars to glufosinate and glyphosate. TifSport was relatively tolerant to clethodim and glufosinate compared with other cultivars, but relatively sensitive to glyphosate. One cultivar, 94‐437, was consistently among the most sensitive cultivars to each of the herbicides. While there were differential herbicide tolerances among the tested bermudagrass cultivars, there did not appear to be any naturally occurring herbicide resistance that could be commercially utilized. However, research indicated that breeding efforts should target herbicide resistance that is at least four times the registered use rate. Also, TifSport and Tifway have been identified as suitable representatives of triploid hybrid bermudagrass cultivars to be used to evaluate the success of turfgrass renovation programs. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry