► Xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and transporters modify placental transfer of xenobiotics. ► Several in vitro methods for placental toxicity and transfer exist. ► Placental perfusion and cells grown on semipermeable membranes provide data on placental transfer. ► Other models provide data on mechanisms affecting transfer such as uptake, efflux and metabolism. Over the decades several ex vivo and in vitro models which utilize delivered human placenta have been developed to study various placental functions. The use of models originating from human placenta to study transplacental transfer and related mechanisms is an attractive option because human placenta is relatively easily available for experimental studies. After delivery placenta has served its purpose and is usually disposed of. The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the use of human placental models for the studies on human placental transfer and related mechanisms such as transporter functions and xenobiotic metabolism. Human placental perfusion, the most commonly used continuous cell lines, primary cells and tissue culture, as well as subcellular fractions are briefly introduced and their major advantages and disadvantages are discussed.