In a unit for making sections of padding for absorbent sanitary articles comprising a first rotary conveyor for feeding and forming a continuous succession of outer pads, comprising at least one layer, a second rotary conveyor for feeding and forming a continuous succession of inner pads comprising two layers, a third rotary conveyor for the pads defining a position for superposing the outer pads and the inner pads, there are compressing means for the two-layer inner pads upstream of the superposing position and second compressing means for the superposed pads downstream of the superposing position.