A comprehensive review is presented of destructive and nondestructive techniques for three-dimensional (3D) characterization of the impact damage in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminated composites. Among the methods described are (i) destructive de-ply and sectional fractography techniques and (ii) nondestructive visual observation, fibre optics, different kinds of Xray radiography and ultrasonic methods, namely de-ply radiography, stereo radiography, X-ray computed tomography (CT), X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM), acoustic backscatter, and scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) technique. Particular attention is given to the SAM characterization technique. New results obtained at this laboratory are also presented. Important results and developments are discussed with references made to future research.