The hypocotyl length of soybean seedlings undergoes changes in function of genotype characteristics, seed age, water availability, temperature and sowing depth. Thirteen cultivars were studied under Iaboratory and greenhouse conditions to classify as to hypocotyl length. Three substrates (rolled paper, sand and two soil types) and three sowing depth were studied. In laboratory, using sand as substrate, with and without aged seed, BR-37 and BR-38 cultivars showed longer hypocotyl; BR-4, BR-16, BR-36, IAC-16 and FT-Cometa cultivars showed medium hypocotyl and OC-3, OC-4, OC-11, IAC-15 and IAC-31 Foscarin cultivars shorter ones. Using rolled paper, without aged seed, the cultivars with longer cultivars were OC-3, OC-4, BR-36, BR-37, BR-38, IAC-11, IAC-15 and FT-Cometa and the other ones showed shorter hypocotyl. Under greenhouse conditions, using soil (red soil) as substrate, all cultivars showed longer hypocotyl, except FT-Cometa. There was a significant effect of sowing depth on the hypocotyl elongation for all cultivars. The emergence capacity of soybean cultivars under deeper sowing was not related only to hypocotyl length, but also to higher or Iower seed vigor.