Traditionally, subtotal thyroidectomy has been considered the standard surgical treatment for benign thyroid disorder because of its safety compared with total thyroidectomy. However with the recent introduction of safe surgical techniques, thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease is being performed more frequently. Pitfalls of the subtotal thyroidectomy include high recurrence rate and malignancy in the remnant thyroid tissue. In this study we compare the complication rates after subtotal thyroidectomy and thyroidectomy. During 3 years period 214 thyroidectomies for benign thyroid disease were performed in our hospital: 51 subtotal thyroidectomies, 98 thyroidectomies and 65 lobectomies. Permanent hypocalcaemia was observed in 2 cases of subtotal thyroidectomy group and 3 cases of thyroidectomy group. Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was demonstrated in 1 case in the subtotal thyroidectomy group versus 2 cases in the thyroidectomy group. Eight cases developed recurrence of the primary disease and were all re-operated in the subtotal thyroidectomy group. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens revealed incidental micro carcinoma in 10 cases. We conclude that thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease is of comparable safety to subtotal thyroidectomy with the advantage that it eliminates the possibility of malignancy in the thyroid remnants or recurrence of the primary disease.