A wide range of methyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from C16 to C24 has been separated by supercritical fluid chromatography on a packed silica column. The retention times were primarily dependent on the number of double bonds and the chain length of the parent acid had a negligible influence. The efficiency and resolution of cis‐ and trans‐isomers of C18 and C22 esters were examined on linked columns from 25 to 175 cm overall length. Improvements were obtained up to 125 cm but the effects were limited by increases in the back pressure.