Murine models have been utilized with increasing frequency mainly due to availability of genetically engineered models. With advancement in high spatial and temporal resolution, echocardiography is used extensively for the evaluation of cardiovascular function in murine models of cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes the general applications and methods involved in echocardiography used to study mouse models for cardiovascular research, based on 20 years of experience in the authors' laboratory. The goal of this article is to provide a practical guide to the use of echo techniques in mice to evaluate cardiac systolic and diastolic function. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 1:71‐83. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.