Abstract A method using space waves to detect the permittivites of media in half space is performed in the laboratory: transmitting a wave with both parallel and perpendicular polarizations simultanlously by a born and receiving the amplitudes and phases of the specular reflected waves with each polarizations respectively. The experiment is performed in X frequency band. The permittivites of target can be in any range. The results agree with that by the metal-scalling method. This method is of value in practical use.