Triacylglycerol (TAG) productivity of Isochrysis galbana, Nannochloropsis oceanica and Phaeodactylum tricornutum was compared to study their suitability for biotechnological applications. Photoautotrophic batch cultures grown at 20 °C and 50 μmol photons m−2 s−1 showed that N. oceanica had the least TAG content and TAG productivity of the three microalgae. Hence, effects of temperature and light intensity on growth rate and accumulation of TAG were subsequently assessed only in I. galbana and P. tricornutum by cultivation at 20 and 30 °C under 50, 300 and 600 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Although P. tricornutum did not grow at temperatures higher than 20 °C, an increase in both TAG content (from 28.37 to 39.53%) and productivity (from 15.58 to 31.39 mg L−1 d−1) was observed at the highest irradiance values. We also found that combined effects of temperature and light intensity enhanced TAG content (from 18.59 to 31.71%) and productivity (from 11.76 to 21.67 mg L−1 d−1) in I. galbana. Display omitted •Productivity of oil and biomass in batch-cultured marine microalgae was compared.•Increase in temperature and irradiance rose oil productivity in Isochrysis galbana.•An increase in light intensity rose oil productivity in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.•Phaeodactylum tricornutum showed the highest productivity in biomass and neutral lipids.