We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of a self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) vs. surgery for the palliative treatment of colorectal obstruction caused by advanced colorectal malignancy. The databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane controlled trials registry and the Chinese Wanfang were retrieved (updated to 31 August 2011) to identify eligible studies. We calculated the odds ratio or weighted mean difference and its corresponding 95 % confidence interval. In total, nine primary studies were included in this analysis. The success rate of SEMS placement was 93.9 %, with short-term and long-term complication rates of 26.2 and 16.1 %, respectively. Combined analyses revealed that the SEMS group had a similar risk of short-term complications as the surgical group (P = 0.22). Moreover, SEMS was not associated with a higher mortality risk than surgical intervention (P = 0.22) and it required a significantly shorter hospitalization time (P < 0.01); however, SEMS patients had a higher risk of long-term complications (P = 0.03). Because of great heterogeneities between patients and chemoradiotherapy, we did not analyze the survival times of the two groups. These results support the feasibility of SEMS as a palliative treatment for malignant colorectal obstruction caused by incurable malignancy, as it requires shorter hospitalization and is followed by quick recovery. However, the risk of long-term complications such as perforation and stent migration should be borne in mind.