A simple, rapid and sensitive Spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of cephadroxil (I), cephalexin (II) and cephradine (III). The method is based on ion-pair complex formation between these derivatives and Chromotrope 2B (C2B) or Chromotrope 2R (C2R), to give a highly coloured radical anion. The coloured products are quantified spectrophotometrically at 542 and 564 nm for C2B and C2R, respectively. The optimization of the experimental conditions is described. The method has been used for the determination of 0.4–15, 0.4–14 and 0.4–18 g/ml of drugs I, II and III, respectively. The accuracy of the method is indicated by the excellent recovery (100.01.7%) and the precision is supported by the low relative standard deviations 1.5%. The sensitivity of the method is discussed and the results are compared with the official method. The interference from common degradation products and excipients was also studied. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of the different cephalosporins in dosage forms, with good precision and accuracy. The results were compared with those given by the official B.P. 1993 method.