The similarity and difference between the flat-bottom and cone-bottom cylindrical spouted beds, conical spouted beds, and vertical upward jets in fluidized beds have been analyzed in this paper based on the effects of geometrical parameters on the minimum spouting velocity and operating stabilities of the spouted beds. The effect of angle on minimum spouting velocity was found to be only significant within the range of 30 to 60 degrees cone angles. Minimum spouting velocity in deep cylindrical spouted beds was proportional to the square root of the static bed height, but was proportional to the static bed height in conical spouted beds and large cylindrical spouted beds with small height-to-diameter ratio. The relationship between the minimum spouting velocity and the static bed height was consistent with that between jet velocity and the vertical jet penetration length in jetting fluidized beds.