This study calibrated fully developed flow with three categories of rule of thumb by investigating shallow water flow in a small flume of 6.4m long with different bed roughness. A fully developed length of 3.1m measured from entrance has been observed from the velocity profiles that were measured from the flows of 20mm in depth over bed paved with wood plank, A80 sand cloth, or A24 sand cloth. The investigation reveals that it is feasible to make preliminary judgment by the empirical formula for L≥240R when the aspect ratio of flow is greater than 10; however, it is necessary to compare the velocity profiles measured from at least two sections for final conclusion.