In　order　to　fully　comprehend　dynamic　responses　of　metallic　auxetic　honeycombs,　drop　hammer　impact　tests　and　corresponding　finite　element　(FE)　analyses　were　conducted.　The　three-dimensional　(3D)　printing　technology　was　adopted　to　manufacture　stainless　steel　specimens　with　varying　cell　side　length-to-thickness　ratios　and　cell　configurations.　The　specimens　were　crushed　under　three　distinct　energy　inputs,　and　the　deforming　process　and　relevant　mechanical　parameters,　e.g.,　the　Poisson＇s　ratio,　failure　mode,　plateau　stress　and　energy　absorption　capacity　were　studied.　The　FE　results　can　generally　compare　well　with　the　experimental　ones　and　facilitate　clarifying　the　impact　mechanisms　of　the　experimental　results.　Improvements　of　the　auxetic　specimens　in　energy　absorption　were　verified　through　comparison　with　that　of　the　corresponding　convex　honeycomb.　The　results　reveal　that　the　specimen　with　an　auxetic　honeycomb　has　higher　plateau　stress　and　specific　energy　absorption　with　less　deformation　when　the　geometric　size　is　the　same.　A　small　side　length-to-thickness　ratio　and　input　impact　energy　can　lead　to　greatly　improved　energy　absorption　efficiency.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd