Objective To compare the efficacy of bilateral and unilateral metallic stenting in the treatment of unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction. Methods From January 2012 to December 2018, a total of 300 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction (Bismuth type Ⅱ-Ⅳ) were treated with endoscopic metallic stenting in Oriental Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital. Ninety-four patients with bilateral metallic stenting (bilateral metallic stent group) and 94 patients with unilateral metallic stenting (unilateral metallic stent group) were matched and analyzed by propensity score matching. The clinical success rate, the total number of interventions, the stent patency and overall survival time were compared between the two groups. Results The clinical success rate in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly higher than that of the unilateral metallic stent group [98.9% (93/94) VS 78.7% (74/94), χ2=19.352, P<0.001], and the mean number of intervention in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly less than that of the unilateral metallic stent group (1.2±0.5 times VS 1.7±0.9 times, t=-4.345, P<0.001). The stent patency time in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly longer than that of the other group [10.0 (8.0, 12.1) months VS 5.7 (5.2, 6.3) months, χ2=19.789, P<0.001]. The median survival time of patients in the bilateral group was numerically longer than that in the unilateral group, but did not reach statistical significance [7.6 (6.3, 8.9) months VS 4.6 (3.7, 5.7) months, χ2=3.628, P=0.057]. Conclusion Endoscopic bilateral metallic stenting is superior to unilateral metallic stenting in the clinical management of malignant hilar biliary obstruction unsuitable for surgery.