This study was undertaken to investigate the ratio and compositions of tailings of the tailings return unit in the commercially available head-feed combines. The ratio of the returned tailings to the sum of the threshed grain and the returned tailings was 2.3~7.2% for various varieties of rice and operational conditions of combines tested and increased as the feeding rate and the cleaning air volume increased. The analysis of the returned tailings showed that the composition of rubbish and short straw was decreased as the feeding rate and the cleaning air volume increased.