Aim: To study the reliability and validity of the nine rating scales for dysphagia in stroke patients in China. Methods: Totally 56 consecutive inpatients with dysphagia of stroke at the Department of Neurology were assessed with the nine scales and received video-fluoroscopy test. Reliability was analysed by using Kappa correlation. Criteria validity was determined by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Predictive validity was completed by analysis of variance, logistic regression analysis and spearman correlation analysis. Sensitivity was analysed by effective scale. The correlation among the 9 scales was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Results: All the scales had significant test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. Scale 2 had the best reliability (Test-retest reliability, Kappa = 0.87, P < 0.01; Inter-rater reliability, Kappa = 0.665, P < 0.01). However, in the mass, there were not satisfied validity markers (the correlation with the grade under video-fluoroscopy, the predictive accuracy of aspiration, correlation with pneumonia in hospital and skin-fold thickness discharged from hosptial) in the scales 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9. Scales 1 and 4 had the similar construction and emphasis, but scale 1 had better validity than scale 4 (r = 0.728, P < 0.01). Scale 3 had the better reliability and validity of the 9 scales. Conclusion: Scale 3 is recommended in evaluation of dysphagia in patients with stroke for the future clinical work or study.