Consolidation plays a key role in embankment’s stability analysis, any structure like column or footing before the construction on clayey soils. Practically, the lateral flow of water is not the same in all the lateral directions due to different boundary conditions of soil mass; therefore, it is essential to consider varying drainage paths to forecast the consolidation characteristics of soil for the subsequent in-situ conditions. In the present study, an experimental investigation has been performed to estimate the consolidation characteristics of soil by 1D oedometer and laboratory 3D consolidation apparatus with six possible drainage paths; the condition having the highest coefficient of consolidation and the rate of consolidation is determined. A comparison has also been established between the consolidation characteristics of the laboratory 1D oedometer apparatus and the 3D consolidation apparatus. The experimental results show that the water extraction rate increases when the lateral flow is considered along with the vertical flow. This lateral flow has an enormous effect on the coefficient consolidation of soil. The present study is beneficial in the case of ground conditions where soft saturated soil exists in the construction field.