Method and apparatus for inspecting the surface of a workpiece for the presence of burrs. A focused laser beam is swept across the surface of the workpiece while a photodetector positioned at an acute angle to the workpiece surface senses reflections produced by the beam. The photodetector, when positioned in the plane swept by the beam, observes reflections from the tip of the burr and from the portion of the path on the surface which is not obscured by the burr. The length of the path portion from which reflections are obscured by the burr is directly proportional to the height of the burr. Suitable logic and measuring networks calibrated to the sweep velocity on the workpiece and triggered by the reflections are capable of determining the length of the obscured portion and therefore the height of the burr.