An　analytical　model　based　on　the　two-equation　method　is　proposed　in　this　study　to　evaluate　the　heat　transfer　performance　in　sandwiched　metal　honeycomb　heat　exchangers　under　forced　convection　conditions.　The　local　thermal　non-equilibrium　between　a　cooling　fluid　and　solid　honeycombs　is　considered.　The　validity　and　the　accuracy　of　the　analytical　results　are　verified　by　numerical　simulation.　Compared　with　the　convectional　corrugated　wall,　effective　medium,　and　transfer　matrix　models,　the　present　analytical　predictions　are　closer　to　the　finite　element　simulation　results　in　a　wide　range　of　relative　density.　According　to　the　analytical　solutions,　the　effects　of　cell　wall　length,　relative　thickness　of　the　heat　exchanger,　fluid-to-solid　thermal　conductivity　ratio　on　flow　characteristics,　and　heat　transfer　performance　are　subsequently　examined　to　obtain　the　optimum　design　for　compact　heat　exchangers　that　require　high　heat　transfer　performance.　Results　show　the　mutual　influence　between　cell　wall　length　and　relative　thickness.　The　use　of　a　metal　honeycomb　in　compact　heat　exchangers　can　significantly　enhance　heat　transfer　with　a　low　pressure　drop.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.