The spreading of a drop of non-Newtonian (power-law) liquid over a horizontal solid substrate is analyzed theoretically through energy approach method in the case of complete wetting. In this approach we have used the physical and geometrical reasoning and finally obtained a relation between the rate of spreading and bottom radius of the drop. It is shown that spreading rate of shear thickening liquid is more than that of a Newtonian liquid while shear thinning liquid is having slower rate than the latter one. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.