Objective To explore the relationship between pure solid non-small cell lung cancer with diameter<2 cm and lymph node metastasis rate. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological data of 611 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital between October 2005 and September 2016. There were 322 males and 289 females aged 58.8±10.0 years (range from 25 to 84 years). The relationship between clinicopathological feature and lymph node metastasis rate was analyzed by logistic regression. Results Lymph node metastasis was observed in 136 patients. The rate of lymph node metastasis was 22.3% in pure solid non-small cell lung cancer with diameter<2 cm. The result of univariate analysis showed that differentiation of tumor (P<0.001), location of tumor (P=0.047) and gender (P=0.032) were associated with lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed that differentiation of tumor was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). Conclusion The rate of lymph node metastasis is high in pure solid non-small cell lung cancer with diameter<2 cm. Differentiation of tumor is an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. We recommend systematic lymph node dissection in the patients of this group. And we should choose sublobar resection prudentially.