The knowledge of the vapor-liquid two-phase diethyl ether (DEE)/air mixtures (mist) on the explosion parameters was an important basis of accident prevention. Two sett of vapor-liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations were obtained with Sauter mean diameters of 12.89 and 22.90 mu m. Experiments were conducted on vapor-liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations at an ignition energy of 40.32 J and at an initial room temperature and pressure of 21 degrees C and 0.10 MPa, respectively. The effects of the concentration and particle size of DEE on the explosion pressure, the explosion temperature, and the lower and upper flammability limits were analyzed. Finally, a series of experiments was conducted on vapor-liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations at various ignition energies. The minimum ignition energies were determined, and the results were discussed. The results were also compared against our previous work on the explosion characteristics of vapor-liquid two-phase n-hexane/air mixtures. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.