Successful performance in a construction project helps to deliver good products to the client. At present, there is no standard approach used by clients to evaluate project performance as project success carries different definitions to different people. Some used the traditional project performance measures of cost, quality and time while others used additional non-traditional measures such as the environment, health and safety, level of technology and contractor planning. The purpose of this study is to identify and rank the actual criteria used by local clients in current practice to measure the performance of a construction project during construction as well as upon completion. The ranking is based on the relative importance of the criteria as perceived by project performance decision makers working for clients' organizations within the Malaysian construction industry using their accumulated experience and judgment. The objective of this study was investigated through a postal questionnaire which covered a selected sample of the study. Data were analyzed using mean, variance, frequency and severity index analyses. The results of this paper show that Quality of finished project, Construction cost and Construction time were the three most important criteria considered crucial by the respondents for evaluating project performance from current practice in Malaysia. The paper provides supportive practical solution for project performance decision makers working for clients' organizations within the Malaysian construction industry to enhance and improve their practices in measuring their clients' project performance so that their clients would enjoy higher satisfaction levels from their projects. More so, the paper would serve as a guide to contractors by helping them to understand that Quality of finished project, Construction cost and Construction time are the criteria given high priority by clients in measuring the performance of a construction project. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2011.