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Drawing from theoretical models of emotion and aspects of interdependence theory, we investigated the association among need fulfillment, relative dependence, and emotional experience within romantic relationships. Daily self-reports of general and relationship-related emotional experience and perceived fulfillment of relationship needs were collected on four consecutive days from participants involved in romantic relationships. Consistent with hypotheses, fulfillment of relationship needs was found to significantly predict emotional experience, with the association at times moderated by the geographic distance of the relationship (local versus long-distance). In addition, participants in relationships characterized by an inequality of dependence experienced less positive and more negative relationship-related emotion than did participants in mutually dependent partnerships.