Perpendicular-laid and cross-laid highloft nonwoven fabrics are constructed of cotton, polyester, and bicomponent co-polyester bonding fibers. Kawabata parameters describing the compressional resistance and recovery of these fabrics are measured with a comput erized Q- test instrument. Results are obtained from tests replicated by two independent operators in triplicate and on different dates. Compared to cross-laid fabrics, perpendic ular-laid fabrics show higher compressional resistance and superior elastic properties. These results confirm earlier findings on the compressional behavior of highlofts deter mined on a Gustin-Bacon thickness measurement instrument.