A range of physical properties of linseed (Linum usitatissimum) were determined as a function of moisture content. As the moisture content increased from 8·25 to 22·25% dry basis (d.b.), the average length, width, thickness and the geometric mean diameter varied from 4·57 to 4·86, 2·40 to 2·59, 1·03 to 1·13 and 2·24 to 2·43 mm, respectively. In the same moisture range, studies on rewetted linseed showed that, sphericity, surface area and 1000 seed mass and true density increased from 49·09% to 49·94%, 15·83 mm2 to 18·56 mm2 and 6 g to 6·7, 1010·1 to 1020·4 kg m−3, respectively. As the moisture content increased from 8·25 to 22·25% d.b., bulk density was decreased from 690·5 to 545 kg m−3 whereas the angle of repose, terminal velocity and porosity were found to increase from 21·59° to 26·85° and 2·46 to 3·82 m s−1, 31·64% to 46·59%, respectively.