An oxidized starch ester was prepared and used for surface sizing. Esterification of starch decreased both Brookfield viscosity and Brabender viscosity substantially even though the solids level was increased by 2% from 14% to 16%. Surface sizing with the esterified starch gave better performance in tensile strength, stiffness and compressive strength than surface sizing with oxidized starch in the laboratory. Advantages in strength improvement, however, were not obtained when it was applied in commercial papermaking process. This was attributed to the fact that the influence of starch types has been nullified by high pressure penetration that occurs in the commercial papermaking process. Drying energy consumption, however, decreased by 3.3% by substituting the low solids oxidized starch with a high solids starch ester.