N loss by volatilization was measured for surface‐applied granular urea and ammonium nitrate, liquid urea‐ammonium nitrate and liquid acid urea in closed containers. Urea‐containing fertilizers lost between 10 and 451 of the N added within 10 days. The presence of a straw mulch accentuated the losses. N volatilization losses from acid urea solutions were significantly less than from granular urea. Addition of water following surface application of granular urea significantly reduced the loss of N as ammonia from the soil. The results of this laboratory study indicate that use of acid urea for surface application of N fertilizers may reduce N volatilization losses relative to granular urea, but losses still exceed those from ammonium nitrate.