Flammability limits of binary mixtures of dimethyl ether with five kinds of diluent gases were measured by ASHRAE method at room temperature. The five diluent gases are nitrogen, carbon dioxide, chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoroethane (HFC-134a) and 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea). The experimental results were correlated with the extended Le Chatelier's formula. It was found that the experimental results were well reproduced by the formula. In addition, flammability limits of binary mixtures of dimethyl ether with nitrogen and carbon dioxide were compared with the estimated values based on the adiabatic flame temperature method. The experimental results were found to be in satisfactory agreement with the estimated values. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.