Horizontal absorbency test was carried out to measure absorption rate in air-laid nonwoven webs. A model was developed to describe the absorbent behavior in a combined form of saturated and diffusion flow modes. For the experiment, the variables studied were the fiber types, the web structure, and the fluid type. All the variables significantly affected the absorption rate, most of which could be rationalized based on the model. The model, the methodologies, and the results obtained are discussed in detail. From the results, structural design for the optimum performance in absorbent product could be suggested.