A rapid separation method was developed for determination of low level promethium-147 and samarium-151. The rapid method, applied to environmental samples, provided speed and efficiency for the respective separation of Pm and Sm from other lanthanides with the simplified technique of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The separation time of Pm and Sm in HPLC separation was shortened by stepwise eluent method of -hydroxyisobutyric acid as compared with a gradient eluent method of lactic acid with HPLC despite increase in sample volume for significant determination of Pm-147 and Sm-151. This method permitted the detection limit around 0.1 Bq/kg-dry-soil for Pm-147 and Sm-151 in 200 g soil sample by counting for 500 min with a liquid scintillation counter.