Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic resection for gastric stromal tumors. Methods: The data of patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric stromal tumors and met the study requirements from January 2010 to January 2016 were collected. Patients undergoing laparoscopic and open surgery were matched in a 1:1 ratio according to the tumor location, with 36 cases each in laparoscopic group and open surgery group finally enrolled. The main clinical variables between the two groups of patients were compared. Results: The general data of the two groups of patients were comparable. The tumor in 5 cases was located near the cardia of the stomach, in 12 cases located at the lesser curvature of the stomach and in 13 cases located in the body or fundus of the stomach. The type of gastric resection performed in the laparoscopic and open surgery group (gastric wedge resection: 26 cases vs. 23 cases; gastric partial resection: 8 cases vs. 10 cases) had no statistical difference (P<0.05). In laparoscopic group compared with open surgery group, the average operative time and intraoperative blood loss were reduced (114 min vs. 140 min; 90 mL vs. 138 mL), the average time to flatus and oral liquid food intake as well as length of postoperative hospital stay were shortened (2.6 d vs. 3.1 d; 4.1 d vs. 5.3 d; 6.0 d vs. 8.3 d), and incidence of overall perioperative complications was decreased (0.0% vs. 16.7%), and all differences had statistical significance (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in postoperative pathological variables, recurrence rate, and overall survival and disease free survival rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: For primary gastric stromal tumor, laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible, and compared with open surgery, it has the advantages of less trauma, few complications and quicker recovery of the patients under the condition of same tumor location.