Existing data on effects of reactant compact microstructure on self-propagating synthesis, SPS type reactions is reviewed. Propagation rates generally decrease with increased compact density at higher densities, and reactions are no longer ignitable at high densities. At lower densities the trends may vary depending on the reactions. Propagation rates and ignitability also generally decrease with increasing particle size, and can be affected by particle shape. More exothermic reactions lead to greater expansion, hence porosity, in unconstrained samples, while resultant pore sizes are effected mainly by outgassing. Final grain sizes are not a significant function of the initial particle size (but can be effected by finer residual porosity).