The diffraction peak broadening induced by hydrogen absorption–desorption cycling has been analyzed in four different Laves phase compounds with the C 14 and C 15 structures. The broadening is due to strain most probably originating from dislocations generated at the interface between the αα and ββ hydride phases in connection with the cell volume difference between the two phases. It has been shown that it is strongly compound dependent. In the case of the C14 structure, the broadening is large and isotropic, and the latter can be related to the isotropy of the elastic constants of the metallic phase. The broadening is less for the compounds with the C15 structure, which can be related to a possibly softer lattice. Better ageing properties after long-term cycling are predicted for this crystal structure.