A Galerkin finite element formulation is applied to the heat conduction problem in laminated composite plates. The laminate conductivity is formed from those of the constituent fibre and matrix. Both steady and transient heat conduction phases are analysed. In each phase four different types of planar finite elements are used and a suitable numerical example is chosen to compare their performances. In other numerical examples the effect of stacking sequence on the temperature field for a metal matrix composite plate is closely studied.