This study was carried out to measure the mechanical properties and the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of the carbon fiber reinforced composites of several types of the stacking sequence. AE signals were detected during the tensile tests. The number of ringdown counts, total ringdown counts were plotted together with the load-displacement curves. The tensile load-displacement behavior of specimen is compared and discussed based on the measured AE properties in relation to the failure mechanism. With the increase of load, AE signals increased. This showed that failure had being propagated by matrix deformation and cracking, delamination, fiber debonding and breakage. Felicity ratio has been obtained by observation of ;the Kaiser effect according to the variation of load ratio. The reloading tests showed that the felicity ratio decreased obviously when the load ratio or damage increased. These AE characteristics are hopeful to be employed as the criteria to evaluate the failure processes of composites.