Dry machining is gaining more and more importance in today's manufacturing science because of health hazards imposed by the use of coolants while machining. This paper presents a detailed analysis of surface topology in dry machining of EN-8 steel which is widely used material for general-purpose axles, shafts, gears, bolts and studs. Regression models are developed for R_a, R_q, and R_z parameters of surface topology which are very significant parameters from contact stiffness, fatigue strength and surface wear point of view. For all the regression models a good correlation is found between surface roughness and cutting parameters and hence these models can be used to predict the surface roughness within the range of cutting parameters under investigation. Regression models are compared with experimental values of roughness and with available geometrical models. Percent errors are also calculated by comparing regression models and experimental values and a geometrical model. It is found that the percent errors are very small for regression model as compared to geometrical model. Finaly performance of dry machining is compared with that of machining with coolant, no significant difference is found for the surface roughness with the dry machining and that of machining with coolant.