Thermal diffusivity for carbon fiber composites was measured using different fiber types and polymer matrices. Photothermal testing was performed in the various directions parallel and perpendicular to the carbon fiber axis by different photothermal configurations. By focusing the laser beam with a spherical lens, local inhomogeneities of the composite surface in the range of 10 &mgr;m are distinguished. When focusing is done with the aid of a cylindrical lens an averaging over larger scales of the photothermal deflected signal takes place. The results for various carbon fiber materials are discussed in terms of thermal diffusion lengths and thermal diffusivity values. It is shown that the thermal photodeflection method is suitable for measuring anisotropy in oriented carbon fiber composites. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.