Objective To evaluate the outcome of liver transplantation in patients with recurrent liver cancer after resection. Methods Data of 23 patients underwent liver transplantation for recurrent liver cancer from April 2001 to March 2008 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results Previous history of liver resection had little negative effect in subsequent liver transplantation in technical aspect. Liver function recovered uneventfully after transplantation in all cases. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) recovered to normal value in 13 of 17 cases with elevated AFP before transplantation within one month after operation. Five cases (21.74%) had postoperative complications. Nineteen cases (82.61%) were followed up, average follow-up duration were 610 days. There were 5 cases (26.32%) of cancer recurrence and 6 deaths during follow-up, survival rate was 68.42%. Conclusion Liver transplantation is a reasonable treatment for recurrent liver cancer after resection.