Objective To analyze the perioperative conditions and long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods 119 patients with NSCLC underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy from January 2006 to December 2012 were enrolled in the study, then collecting and analyzing their perioperative indicators, pathological results and follow-up data. Results 9 patients converted to thoracotomy with a conversion rate of 7.0 %. The median operation time, the median intraoperative blood loss and off-bed activity time were 170 min (65~440 min), 90 ml (15~3 000 ml) and (32.9 ± 16.3) h after operation respectively. The time and amount of postoperative drainage, the length of hospital stay were (6.7 ± 3.2) d, (1 690.0 ± 410.5) ml, (9.2 ± 4.0) d respectively. The incidence of perioperative mortality and postoperative complications were 0.8 %, 13.4 % respectively. For postoperative pathological type, 96 cases of adenocarcinoma, 19 cases of squamous carcinoma, 2 cases of adenosquamous carcinoma and 2 cases of large cell carcinoma. For discharge patients, the median follow-up time was 34.5 months (0～102 months). The incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis in observation group were 5.0 % and 17.6 % respectively. 1-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were 85.3 % and 79.5 %, 3-year OS and DFS were 69.8 % and 64.8 %, 5-year OS and DFS were 60.8 % and 58.6 % respectively. There was no significant difference in 1-year, 3-year and 5-year OS and DFS between adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma (P > 0.05) while there were significant difference in local recurrence and distant metastasis among different stages (P < 0.05). In addition to slightly low OS, DFS of Ⅲa , Ⅲb and Ⅳ DFS and OS, the overall living conditions among all stage were similar. Conclusions The long-term survival condition of thoracoscopic lobectomy for NSCLC is ideal, and it’s a safe and effective operation, worthy of clinical promoting.