Variable-flux permanent-magnet machines (VFPM) are of great interest and many different machine topologies have been documented. This paper categorizes VFPM machine topologies with regard to the method of flux variation and further, in the case of hybrid excited machines with field coils, with regard to the location of the excitation sources. The different VFPM machines are reviewed and compared in terms of their torque density, complexity and their ability to vary the flux.