In this study, the effect of antioxidant application (applied in different combinations, ratios and contents) on the thermo‐oxidative degradation resistance of bamboo fiber polypropylene composites (BFPCs) were investigated, with oxidative induction time (OIT), weight loss, surface color, and flexural mechanical properties as the main indicators for evaluation. The results showed the addition of antioxidants could greatly increase the OIT and reduce the weight loss and color change of the composites after 900 h of thermal weathering. Meanwhile, the flexural mechanical properties were little affected or even slightly improved. The combination of 1076 and DLTP antioxidants at a ratio of 2:1 and 0.2 wt % content was found to exhibit the best thermal oxidation resistance with respect to the OIT, mechanical properties and cost. Our study indicate that the OIT can serve as a simple and quick indicator for the evaluation of thermo‐oxidative resistance of BFPC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44198.