OBJECTIVE Blood transfusion is unpredictable in liver transplantation and is associated with increased patient morbidity, mortality and cost. This retrospective analysis was conducted to detect factors which could predict intraoperative transfusion of more than four units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) during elective living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS This was a single-centre retrospective study. Demographic, clinical and intraoperative data of 258 adult patients who underwent LDLT from March 2009 to January 2015 were analysed. Univariate and multivariate regression model was used to identify factors responsible for transfusion of more than four PRBCs (defined as massive transfusion [MT]). RESULTS On univariate regression analysis, preoperative factors like aetiology of liver disease, hypertension, history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, low haemoglobin and fibrinogen, high serum bilirubin, high blood urea and creatinine, high model for end-stage liver disease score, portal venous thrombosis, increased duration of surgery and anhepatic phase as well as increased use of other blood products were found to be significantly associated with MT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the only independent factor associated with MT was the number of units of fresh frozen plasma transfused (odds ratio = 1.54 [95% CI (1.12-2.12)]). CONCLUSIONS Many factors are responsible for the need for transfusion during LDLT. Preoperative factors alone do not accurately and consistently predict the need for MT as in our study. It is important to be prepared for need for MT during each transplant.