abstract: Soil quality can be conceptualised as the capability of soil to function within natural or agriculturally managed ecosystems, to sustain plant productivity, and to support human health and habitation. Physical properties suggested as soil quality indicators include texture, aggregation, aggregate water stability, bulk density, field water capacity, retention of useful water, infiltration and aeration. The objective of this study was to determine the criteria of evaluation of the physical quality of Luvisols and Mollic Gleysols developed from moraine loams, sands and silt formations, and Phaeozems and Luvisols developed from loess. The soils were classified into the various complexes of agricultural suitability: very good wheat, good wheat, faulty wheat, very good rye, good rye, strong corn-pasture and weak corn-pasture. The total number of investigated soils was 100 and the number of soil samples taken was 400. The samples were taken from Ap horizons (from the depth of 0-25 cm) and from other genetic horizons (from the depth of 25-50 cm, 50-75 cm and 75-100 cm) after the harvest of cereals in 2008-2010. Standard methods were used to determine the particle size distribution, con-tent of organic carbon and carbonates, pH, and aggregate-size distribution. The distribution of water-stable aggregates was determined in four replications with the use of the modified Baksheyev's apparatus made at the Institute of Agrophys-ics, PAS, in Lublin. Particle density (Mg m-3) was measured pycnometrically. Soil bulk density (Mg m-3) was calculated from the ratio of the mass of soil dried at 105°C to its volume. Total porosity (m3 m-3) was calculated using particle density and bulk density values. Water capacity (m3 m-3) in the range of soil water poten-tial from -0.1 kPa to -1554 kPa was determined in pressure chambers, on porous ceramic plates manufactured by Eijkelkamp Agrisearch Equipment and Soil. Moisture Equipment Corporation. Dexter's index of soil physical quality S was calculated on the basis of water retention curves established with the computer program RETC using the van Genuchten equation. The following were recognised as the best criteria of evaluation of the physi-cal quality of the investigated soils: content of air-dry soil aggregates with sizes of 1-10 mm, content of water-stable aggregates with sizes of 1-10 mm, field water capacity at -15,5 kPa, content of mesopores of 0.2-20 um in diameter which de-termine the retention of useful water, and content of macropores of >20 um in diameter (air capacity at field water saturation). The values of examined proper-ties were classified with limit numbers as very good, good, medium, weak and very weak. The most favourable of the physical properties were found for the Phaeozems and Luvisols developed from loess.