ABSTRACT Four kinds of refractories, MgO, Y2O3, ZrO2 and MgO–CaO, were selected to smelt C96V saw wire steel to choose a suitable crucible material. In detail, the effect of refractory on number, size, composition and morphology of inclusions in steel samples has been studied. The results indicated that all of the steel samples can obtain the target composition of all the elements by using these refractories as a crucible. Both Y2O3 and ZrO2 refractory can also produce excellent steel samples; this is mainly because the order of stability of the four oxides from high to low at steelmaking temperature is CaO > Y2O3 > ZrO2 > MgO. In addition, both Y2O3 and ZrO2 have extremely high stability in the steelmaking process and are difficult to be reduced by any elements in molten steel. Nevertheless, MgO–CaO refractory still has obvious advantages in terms of smelting effect, mainly in the following aspects: the steel samples can obtain the lowest content of T. O (total oxygen content in steel), S and [Al]s, and the lowest value of Al2O3 content in composite inclusions. However, the most troublesome for MgO–CaO refractory is its tendency to absorb moisture in air and become invalid.