A simple procedure for experimental evaluation of breakage and coalescence rates in turbulent liquid–liquid dispersions was developed. Measuring drop size distributions in steady state photographically and variation of the specific interfacial area with time after a change in the stirrer speed by a laser light attenuation, the necessary parameters were evaluated by curve fitting. Influences of hold-up and stirrer speed were systematically investigated with toluene or o-xylene dispersed in water. A sample set of equations defining variation of breakage and coalescence rates with drop size, hold-up and stirrer speed was derived.