The scale dependence of transmission of microwave radiation atK‐band frequencies (18–26.5 GHz) through a dense distribution of conducting spheres is studied for densities where localization is expected to occur. Scatterer packing fractions ranged from 0.16 to 0.22. Values of the elastic and transport mean free paths, and effective absorption lengths were obtained by fitting the transmission data to classical diffusion models. At the lowest densities the elastic mean free paths are within ∼15% of the value calculated with the single scattering formula. Atf=0.22 the difference is about 30%; this result together with an absorption length of ∼6 cm could account for the failure to observe strong coherent effects and associated nonclassical transport.