An experimental study of hydrogen production from biomass was conducted using a benchscale fluidized bed gasifier. Parametric experiments were performed to determine the effects of reactor temperature, equivalence ratio, and steam to biomass ratio. Experimental measurements of gas composition and yield were used to calculate the hydrogen yield potential, the capacity of the gas stream for hydrogen production by shifting carbon monoxide and steam reforming higher hydrocarbons. Over the ranges of experimental conditions examined, hydrogen yield potential proved to be most sensitive to equivalence ratio, varying from 62 g H-2 kg(-1) of dry, ash-free biomass at an equivalence ratio of 0.37, to 128 g H-2 kg(-1) of dry, ash-free biomass at an equivalence ratio of 0.0. Of the conditions tested, the highest hydrogen yield potential, 128 g H-2 kg(-1) of dry, ash-free biomass, was achieved at a reactor temperature of 850 degrees C, equivalence ratio of 0.0, and a steam to biomass ratio of 1.7. This is 78% of the theoretical maximum yield of 165 g H-2 kg(-1) of dry, ash-free biomass for this feedstock.