Surgical treatment of liver cystic echinococcosis (LCE) could be conservative or radical. Radical surgery includes liver resection, but usually are minor hepatectomy in favourable segments. Experience in major hepatectomy (MH) for LCE is limited. Retrospective study. Period: January 2007–December 2014. Inclusion criteria: liver infestation with Echinococcus granulosus causing active or complicated cysts. Epidemiological, clinical, radiological and surgical data were studied. 145 patients underwent surgery for LCE. MH was performed in 49 patients (34%) with 81 cysts. 51% of patients were women. Mean age: 56 years. Sixteen patients (32.7%) had recurrent disease. The mean diameter cyst was 9.9 cm. The MH performed were right hepatectomy (n = 15), left hepatectomy (6) and others (n = 28). The reason for MH was occupation of the entire lobe (14), severe vascular or biliary involvement (17), or a combination of the two (18). Major morbidity (Clavien III-V) was 26%. Mortality was 2%. Mean hospital stay: 15.3 days. At follow-up (mean: 31 months) the rate of liver recurrence after MH was 0%. MH is feasible in LCE, with a major morbidity rate of (26%), and zero recurrence. Indications of MH are occupation of an entire lobe, extreme biliary or vascular involvement or recurrent cysts. •Experience in major hepatectomy for liver hydatidosis is limited ad usually considered excessive for a benign disease.•Major hepatectomy is feasible in liver hydatidosis, with a major morbidity rate of (26%), and zero recurrence.•Indications of MH are occupation of an entire lobe, extreme biliary or vascular involvement or recurrent cysts.