The effect of sodium N,N‐diethyl dithiocarbamate (SDEDTC) on the corrosion of carbon steel in 0.5mol/L hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution was studied using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarisation curves and impedance measurement methods. Experimental results revealed that SDEDTC acted as an inhibitor in acid environments. Moreover, the compound was a mixed‐type inhibitor, acting predominantly as a cathodic inhibitor. Inhibition efficiency increased with increasing SDEDTC concentration at different temperatures. The corrosion inhibition mechanism of SDEDTC for carbon steel in HCl solution was also investigated by impedance techniques.