Column configurational effects on GPC column performance are described. Corning controlled porosity glass beads were used for the column packing and narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrenes were used to measure column performance. Initially, 5 different configurations of a single 8-foot long column were evaluated for changes in retention volume, efficiency and resolution. Polymer retention volumes were found not to be affected in any way by column shape. Two “figure 8” configurations of different size, which involve compensation of flow paths, gave no change in efficiency. Coiled columns, down to approximately 12 inches in coil diameter, also gave little change in efficiency whereas smaller coils showed up to 40% loss in efficiency. For each configuration, much greater losses of column efficiency were observed for samples below 10,000 molecular weight. Column diameters of 0.318 in., i.d., and 0.187 in., i.d., were used in a Waters Associates Model 200 chromatograph. The smaller diameter column was coiled to a 4 inch diameter with no loss in efficiency. In another study, the loss in efficiency due to coiling for the larger diameter column was significantly reduced by increasing the column packing particle size. These findings contrast sharply with configurational effects reported for liquid chromatographic columns. From this investigation it is apparent that GPC columns can be prepared with very compact configurations with no loss of column performance. These findings can aid in GPC instrumentation design and influence the method chosen for preparing long, high resolution GPC columns.