Calixarenes CA1-CA4 containing one to four 4-imidazolylethylamidocarbonyl groups were synthesized and tested as inhibitors for the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl at 308 K. The study was made using Tafel polarisation and weight-loss methods. In contrast to CA1, calixarenes CA2-CA4 were good inhibitors, reaching inhibition efficiencies (E%) of 94 to 100% at 10(-4) M. The values of the inhibition efficiency calculated by the two techniques were in acceptable agreement. E% increased with the number of 4-imidazolylethylamidocarbonyl groups attached to the calixarene. Polarisation curves showed that CA2-CA4 act as mixed-type inhibitors. Their adsorption on the steel surface followed a Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were also deduced.