In order to improve the remediation effect of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, the enhancements of different surfactants (Tween-80 (Tw-80), TritonX-100 (TX 100), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS)) on the oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons by sodium persulfate were investigated, and the mechanisms for the better performance of SDS were analyzed. The removal rate of petroleum hydrocarbon in soil follows the trend: SDS>SDBS>TX 100>Tw-80. The better remediation effect of SDS may be related to its smaller adsorption capacity, stronger solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons, higher level of transition metals in supernatant and less decomposition of sodium persulfate in soil. By optimizing the reaction parameters, the enhancement of SDS in remediation efficiency by sodium persulfate can be further improved, and fairly good remediation effects are observed in both soils collected from Wuhan and Panjin.