INTRODUCTION: It is unclear how social determinants of health (SDoH) impact short-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy from 2009 to 2018 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Regression analyses adjusted for comorbidity score, grade, stage, and treatment were used to identify SDoH (race, insurance, income, education) that predicted time to surgery (TTS), length of stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Among 25,243 patients with stage I, II or III gastric adenocarcinoma, the mean age was 66.2 years, 72.1% were men and 69.7% were White. Median TTS was 94 days. Patients in the highest education quartile (Q4) were less likely to experience a long TTS than those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.77). Median LOS was 8 days. An extended LOS (>8 days) was less likely among Black (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.82), Hispanic (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.84) or Asian patients (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.59) compared with White patients. Extended LOS was more likely among patients in education Q4 (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.32), and this association was stronger among patients in education Q4 with stage II (OR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.51) or stage III disease (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.55). Patients in education Q4 were more likely to experience 30-day readmission (OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.65). CONCLUSION: SDoH, particularly education level, impact outcomes after gastrectomy and warrant further investigation to improve delivery of equitable care.