The aim of this article is to compare the plasticizing effect of different plasticizers on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) including glyceryl tribenzoate (GTB), dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB), and glyceryl triacetate (GTA). The chemical structures of plasticizers are characterized by 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance. PLA is blended with GTA, DPGDB, and GTB at various contents by using a twin screw extruder. Plasticizing effect of three plasticizers are evaluated by comparison of thermal property, storage stability, melt plasticizing coefficient, thermal degradation, and water vapor permeability. This study reveals that PLA/DPGDB exhibits better physical properties than the others do. DPGDB containing ether and ester groups may therefore render good compatibility with PLA. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers