Abstract Experimental work is described which investigates the suitability of the Perkin Elmer type adsorbent tube packed with ‘Tenax’ for diffusive sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in non‐industrial indoor air. The tubes are analysed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. Laboratory and site studies show that the passive sampler can provide useful quantitative data about long‐term (4 weeks) mean VOC concentrations in indoor air. The sampling procedure is sufficiently straightforward to allow non‐technical personnel to carry out exposure of the tubes and costs of measurements can be minimised by using the postal service to deliver and return samplers. The technique has been used to measure total VOCs in the main bedroom and living room of 100 homes in the UK. Indoor concentrations range from 0.009 to 11.4 μg L‐1. There is no significant difference between the mean concentrations in the living room and bedroom which are 0.553 and 0.508 μg L‐1 respectively...