ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic value of the easy albumin-bilirubin (EZ-ALBI) score for postoperative complications and long-term prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MethodsThe data on consecutive 1 822 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were obtained and retrospectively analyzed from five medical centers, including West China Hospital, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, The First People’s Hospital of Neijiang City, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin City, and People’s Hospital of Leshan City. Non-conditional logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the aspect on the postoperative complications and long-term prognosis. ResultsThe patients in EZ-ALBI grade 2 had higher incidences of severe complication (Clavein-Dindo classification>2, P=0.001), post-hepatectomy liver failure (P=0.040), length of stay>10 d (P<0.001), perioperative transfusion (P<0.001), and 90 d mortality (P<0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates in EZ-ALBI grade 1 group were 85.5%, 67.0%, and 58.7% while in EZ-ALBI grade 2 group were 72.7%, 51.1%, and 39.8%. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression manifested that patients in EZ-ALBI grade 2 had a significantly worse overall survival [HR=1.24, 95%CI (1.04, 1.48), P=0.015]. ConclusionThe EZ-ALBI score is an easy and feasible classifying method to predict postoperative complications and survival of HCC.