Herein, particle-stabilized alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) dispersions were prepared using dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC)-modified laponite as the stabilizer, and sodium alginate (SA) as the protective colloid. The modification of laponite particles with DTAC, which was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction technique, moderately decreases the negative zeta potential and causes the dehydration of laponite particles. Consequently, the modification of laponite promotes the absorption of laponite particles on AKD droplets/spherical particle surfaces, leading to formation of AKD dispersions with reduced particle size and enhanced uniformity when DTAC-to-laponite mass ratio is <1%. Meanwhile, SA significantly increases the stability of the AKD dispersions and provides stable AKD dispersions with smaller particles when SA-to-AKD mass ratio is <0.08%. By means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscope imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)/EDS mapping, the function of DTAC-modified laponite particles in stabilization of AKD dispersions was found to include both formation of a particle barrier around AKD particles and an increase in the moving resistance of AKD particles by laponite particles with SA. AKD dispersions at a DTAC-to-laponite mass ratio 1.0% and SA-to-AKD mass ratio 0.054% provide the smallest droplet size and best sizing performance.