This work deals with the existence of representative volume element (RVE) for unidirectional laminated composites (with and without preexisting cracks). The RVE existence in elastic regime is studied employing periodic boundary conditions for uniaxial and shear loadings separately. RVE does exist in elastic regime for materials having discrete cracking. The numerical simulations for different sizes of RVE are performed keeping the fiber volume and crack volume fractions constant. It is observed that the elastic response is independent of RVE dimension. The RVE validity in softening regime is studied by Lemaitre ductile damage model within matrix phase. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.