Palladium was deposited in monoliths by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using Pd(acac)(2) as precursor. A decreasing axial palladium distribution profile was obtained. The monoliths exhibited catalytic activity for methane combustion and had decreasing axial temperature profiles for the experimental conditions employed. A catalytic monolith prepared by impregnation with the same precursor showed increasing axial temperature profile, and overall temperature gradient was larger than that of monoliths prepared by CVD. Reactant conversion was higher for the CVD catalyst than the impregnated one for the same inlet conditions and total palladium loading.