Objective To compare the effects of ultrasound‑guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) in postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery. Methods A total of 60 patients who were scheduled for laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery under general anesthesia from January to July 2021 were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into two groups (n=30): a TAPB group (group T) and a QLB group (group Q). Both groups underwent bilateral subcostal TAPB or QLB under ultrasound guidance before induction of general anesthesia, and 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine was injected into each side in both groups. After surgery, both groups underwent patient controlled intravenous analgesia. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at resting and during movement 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 h and 48 h after surgery, the first time to press the patient controlled intravenous analgesia pump, the dosage of analgesia pump used 24 h after surgery, and the consumption of dezocine injection 48 h after operation were recorded. Their operation time, nerve block operation time, intraoperative sufentanil and remifentanil dosages, postoperative complications, time to postoperative first anal exhaust, time to postoperative first out‑of‑bed activity and the length of hospitalization stay were recorded in the two groups. Result In group Q, the VAS scores at resting 2, 4, 6 h and 12 h after surgery and during movement 2, 4, 6 h and 24 h after surgery were significantly lower than those in group T (P<0.05). Group Q presented decreases in the first time to press analgesic pump after surgery, compared with group T (P<0.05), and decreases in the dosage of analgesic pump used within 24 h, compared with group T (P<0.05), decreases in the dosage of dezocine 48 h after surgery, compared with group T (P<0.05); increases in the operation time of nerve block, compared with group T (P<0.05), decreases in the incidence of postoperative nausea, compared with group T (P<0.05), and decreases in the time to first anal exhaust and first out-of-bed activity after operation, compared with group T (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Compared with oblique subcostal TAPB, QLB can provide better analgesia, with a decreased incidence of postoperative complications for patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery, which can facilitate fast recovery after laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery.