Abstract: To investigate the contents and distribution characteristics of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in tobacco-growing soils, the contents of 6 PAEs and their relationships with soil pH and organic matter in 180 tobacco-growing soil samples from Southeast, Southwest, and Huanghuai regions were studied. The results showed that:1) PAEs were detected in all of the soil samples (100%), and the total content of 6 PAEs (∑PAEs) ranged from 0.000 8 to 8.593 9 mg/kg with an average content of 0.407 5 mg/kg. 2) In the tested 6 PAEs, 5 PAEs, except butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), were detected in 180 soil samples. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DnBP) were the most abundant compounds, accounting for 90% of the ∑PAEs, and their average contents were 0.217 5 and 0.179 7 mg/kg, respectively. 3) 5 PAEs were detected in the samples from Southeast and Southwest regions; 3 PAEs were detected in the samples from Huanghuai region. The contents of ∑PAEs and DEHP in the samples from Southwest region were significantly higher than those from the other regions. In the samples from Huanghuai region, the percentage of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) was higher, while the percentage of DnBP was lower. The percentages of the other PAEs were not different among the regions. 4) The correlations of PAEs contents with pH and organic matter content in tobacco-growing soils among these regions existed differences and uncertainty.