Total lysine requirement of laying Japanese quails was estimated in an experiment using 400 female quails involving a randomized block experimental design with five treatments 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 e 1.4% total lysine and four replications with 20 birds each. The experiment was conducted for 84 days, with three periods, 28 days each. The animal performance parameters studied were: mean body weight, egg production, feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion per egg mass, feed conversion per dozen eggs, mortality and uniformity. Interaction between lysine levels and observation period for feed intake and egg production was detected. It was observed linear effect on feed intake. Egg production was adjusted to the linear response plateau model (LRP), showihg a lower egg production in the third observation period. The total lysine requirement of laying Japanese quails was 0.75% equivalent to 180 mg/bird/day intake for higher egg production.