Tablets of five different compression formulations were investigated for their surface roughness using scanning electron microscopy and non-contact laser profilometry. It was found that the composition of a formulation not only influenced the tabletting properties of the powder mixtures, but also the surface properties of the final product. The addition of larger quantities of very brittle materials such as dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate increased the surface roughness of tablets. An increase in tabletting pressure reduced the tablet surface roughness. Tablets were found to have smoother edges than faces, presumably due to the comparatively higher shear stress at the die walls and a polishing effect during tablet ejection. The assessment of surface roughness in three dimensions appeared more powerful than a simple line profile measurement.