The RAPD technique was found to provide reliable genetic markers in barley. A linkage study of 23 RAPDs, 28 RFLPs, and 29 gene loci was conducted on 72 chromosome‐doubled haploid progeny lines from a barley cross. The resulting linkage map covered 680 cM, about half of the barley genome. RAPD markers were distributed throughout the map, but a higher than expected frequency of tightly linked RAPDs was observed. Several cases of skewed segregation ratios were observed, but the RAPD markers segregated in ratios similar to their linked loci, confirming that they were reliably scored. In separate crosses, two amplified RAPD products, generated by different primers, were shown to reside in corresponding chromosomal positions. The RAPD markers seem a realistic alternative to RFLP markers in linkage analysis of barley.