This paper presents the results of laboratory model tests of a surface strip footing on unreinforced and reinforced sand beds to investigate the effects of reinforcement length. Multiples of footing width B were employed in the tests, namely B. 2B, 3B, 5B and, in some tests, even 7B. The type and number of reinforcements were also varied to determine whether these parameters had an influence on the optimum reinforcement length. The comprehensive results from laboratory model tests on strip footings supported on a woven geotextile and different Geogrids are presented. The load settlement and Bearing Ratio values obtained from the model test program were compared. Based on the results, the length of footing required to achieve optimum improvement was determined for different numbers of reinforcement layers and different reinforcement types. It was also observed that the improvement obtained by reinforcing the subgrade was different for low settlement ratio values and large settlement values. (C) 2015 The Japanese Geotechnical Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier By. All rights reserved.