Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic resection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 110 patients with early-stage NSCLC admitted to Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between August 2017 and December 2019 were enrolled and retrospectively analysed. Among them, 60 patients receiving thoracoscopic resection for lung cancer (LC) were assigned to the research group (Res group) and another 50 patients treated with routine open radical resection for LC were included in the control group (Con group). The following items of the two groups were evaluated and comfree survival rate, 2-year survival rate, and quality of life (QoL). Results: The Res group showed significantly better efficacy, and lower incidence of complications and VAS score than the Con group. In addition, patients in the Res group experienced less intraoperative blood loss, earlier anal exhaust, shorter hospital stay and indwelling time of drainage tube as well as less drainage volume. Furthermore, better recovery in pulmonary function and lung capacity, and significantly higher 2-year tumour-free survival rate, 2-year survival rate as well as postoperative QoL were noted in the Res group compared with the Con group. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic resection for LC is effective in the treatment of patients with early-stage NSCLC. It can substantially shorten the hospital stay and indwelling time of drainage tube and reduce drainage volume and blood loss, with high safety.