A simple, rapid, accurate, precise and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of amlodipine besylate (ADB) in bulk sample and in dosage forms is described. The method is based on oxidation of the drug by potassium permanganate in acidic medium and determine the unreacted oxidant by measuring the decrease in absorbance for five different dyes; methylene blue (MB), acid blue 74 (AB), acid red 73 (AR), amaranth dye (AM) and acid orange 7 (AO) at a suitable λmax 663, 609, 511, 520, and 484nm, respectively. Regression analysis of Beer’s law plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 1.0–24, 0.9–22, 1.2–26, 0.9–12.8 and 1.0–14μgml−1, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantitation limits were calculated. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration ranges were 1.2–22.4, 1.1–20, 1.4–24.5, 1.0–12.3 and 1.3–13.2μgml−1, respectively. Statistical treatment of the results reflects that the proposed procedures are precise, accurate and easily applicable for the determination of amlodipine besylate in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations.