The thermoluminescent dosimeters were arranged in a three-dimensional pattern to measure radiation exposure around an x-ray machine. The results show that the dose distribution outside the x-ray beam has an orientation selection. The dose on the cathode side is larger than that on the anode. The maximum dose in eight directions was five times to the minimum dose. The ratio of the doses at the position of central x-ray beam to positions of 50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm away from the central beam was 1: 0.016: 0.011: 0.008. The farther the distance from the x-ray beam, the lower the exposure. In addition, the average dose difference was insignificant at planes of 80 cm, 130 cm and 180 cm above the ground.