Unmet need for family planning arises when women wish to avoid pregnancy but do not use contraception. A community-based cross-sectional study in urban slums of Davangere, Karnataka, evaluated married women of reproductive age. 16% had unmet need, 51% for spacing, 49% for limiting. Factors associated included literacy, number of children, and contraceptive knowledge. Tubectomy was the most common method; health workers were primary information source. Lack of knowledge was the main reason for unmet need. Health education campaigns are recommended. © 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.