Impact compressive characteristics of carbon/epoxy laminates in through-thickness direction are evaluated using the standard split Hopkinson pressure bar. Three types of carbon/epoxy composites, namely unidirectional carbon/epoxy, cross-ply carbon/epoxy and plain-weave carbon/epoxy with almost the same thickness are tested at room temperature. Cylindrical compression specimens are machined such that the longitudinal direction of each specimen is parallel to the thickness direction of the laminates. The effects of strain rate, and reinforcement geometry on the secant modulus, ultimate compressive strength and strain, and the absorbed energy are examined in detail. It is shown that the cross-ply carbon/epoxy laminated composite exhibits the highest strength characteristics at low and high rates of strain.