The partial oxidation of methane to C 2 hydrocarbons was investigated experimentally in a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The effects of reactor wall temperature, input gas flow rate and volumetric ratio of methane to oxygen over methane conversion and C 2 production were investigated. The highest C 2 selectivity of about 50% was achieved at 1.8% methane conversion. Finally the model equations were used to correlate methane conversion and ethylene selectivity with the system variable within the studied range of them. The correlation equation shows the sole effects and interaction effects of system variables on methane conversion and ethylene selectivity.