A pressure drop model is presented for the direct methanol fuel cell, based on the homogeneous two-phase flow theory and mass conservation equation, which describes the hydraulic behaviour of an experimental large cell (active area 272 cm(2)). The model allows an assessment of the effect of operating parameters, e.g. temperature gradient, current density, flow rate and pressure on pressure losses in the anode and the cathode side of the cell. It is designed to assist the fuel cell system designer to estimate flow and pumping requirements, tube sizing and auxiliary equipment and to be used to calculate flow distribution through fuel cell stack manifolds.