Objective To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic stenting drainage for patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction caused by unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Data of 106 patients with malignant hilar obstruction caused by unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who received endoscopic stenting drainage in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2012 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different stent types, they were divided into the metal stent group (30 cases) and the plastic stent group (76 cases). The observation indexes included clinical success rate, complication incidence, stent patency and overall survival time. The independent predictors for stent patency and overall survival of patients were analyzed by multivariate Cox regression model. Results The overall clinical success rate was 67.9% (72/106) and the incidence of postoperative cholangitis was 29.2% (31/106). The clinical success rates were 93.3% (28/30) and 57.9% (44/76) (χ2=12.40, P<0.001), and the incidences of postoperative cholangitis were 13.3% (4/30) and 35.5% (27/76) (χ2=5.12, P=0.024) in the metal stent group and the plastic stent group, respectively. The median stent patency was 5.2 (95%CI:3.7-6.0) months, and the overall survival time was 3.0 (95%CI:2.5-3.7) months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that hepatic drainage volume <30% was an independent predictor for stent patency (HR=2.12, 95%CI:1.01-4.46, P=0.048). Bismuth type Ⅳ (HR=2.06, 95%CI:1.12-3.77, P=0.020), Child-Pugh class C (HR=4.09, 95%CI: 2.00-8.39, P<0.001) and plastic stent (HR=1.87, 95%CI:1.21-2.90,P=0.005) were independent predictors for overall survival time. Conclusion Hepatocellular carcinoma involving the hilar bile duct has a poor prognosis. Compared with plastic stents, metal stents show advantages in clinical success rate and incidence of postoperative cholangitis. Hepatic drainage volume <30% is an independent predictor for stent patency, and Bismuth type Ⅳ, Child-Pugh class C and plastic stent are independent predictors for overall survival time.