Experience has been obtained in the use of two linear whiteness formulae on a varied set of near‐white cloth samples. Visual assessments of whiteness were made with the aid of the Ciba‐Geigy Plastic White Scale plates. These were compared with predicted whiteness values based on the tristimuhis total radiance factors (reflectance plus fluorescent emission) measured with a photometer fitted with illuminant D60. Good agreement was obtained when the parameters of the prediction formulae were determined by regression analysis, using measurements made on the plates of the White Scale with the same photometer. The closeness of agreement for the cloth samples was examined as a function of hue preference angle. It was found that the formula based on chromaticity coordinates gave superior results to the formula using the radiance factors directly. The practical application of the formula based on chromaticity coordinates is described.