In this paper, 65 pesticides, including banned ones of DDTs, etc. and non-banned ones of iprobenfos, etc. have been detected in 31 surface sediment samples from the East China Sea (ECS) to study their pollution levels, sources, and risks. There were 8 banned pesticides (90–97%) and 10 non-banned pesticides (26–100%) presenting higher detection frequencies. For the 18 pesticides detected, their total contents ranged from 183.49 to 1363.77 ng/g dry weight (d.w.) and presented a seaward decreasing trend. Higher contents of banned pesticides were concentrated in the inner shelf close to Zhoushan Island. Iprobenfos, one of non-banned pesticides, showed the highest detection frequency (100%) and pollution level (79.14–1169.18 ng/g d.w.), indicating its continuous input in recent years. The pesticides concentrations in water calculated by the equilibrium partitioning (EqP) method were lower than the toxicological endpoint for tested aquatic invertebrates and fish, indicating ecological risks of these pesticides were at low levels. •Eighteen banned and non-banned pesticides showed detection frequency of 26–100%.•Non-banned pesticides showed a seaward decreasing trend.•Levels of iprobenfos in sediments of coast areas of China were firstly reported.•Iprobenfos was the representative non-banned pesticides with highest contents.•Terrestrial input was continuous for non-banned pesticides.