AbstractMixed diesters of three diols‐ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and 2‐butene‐1,4‐diol—were prepared wherein one of the ester moieties was benzoate. The laurates were shown to be excellent plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. Diesters containing two aroyl groups, or benzoyl and a short branched‐chain alkanoyl group were also shown to be compatible plasticizers for PVC resin. Longer chain acids, including oleic and erucic, gave incompatible plasticizers. Benzoyloxyethoxyethyl laurate plasticized PVC had low temperature properties, volatility, and thermal stability superior to PVC plasticized with di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate.