OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify and compare predictors of smoking cessation attempts and successful smoking cessation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using the 2009 U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey database was performed. Current smokers (69,583) and ex-smokers who quit smoking during the previous year (8,489) were identified from BRFSS to compose study population. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare the socio-demographic characteristics and smoking-related disease status (1) between smokers who initiated smoking cessation attempts and those who did not, and (2) between smokers who succeeded in their smoking cessation attempts and those who did not. RESULTS: Among smokers, 60.8% made smoking cessation attempts and 17.9% succeeded. Being younger, married, having health insurance, BMI (Body Mass Index) > 25kg/m2, and having a health care provider were independent and significant predictors of  both quitting attempts and quitting success.  African American race and having children in the household were positively and significantly associated with quitting attempts but had an inverse relationship with quitting success.  Additional significant predictors of quitting attempts were Hispanic ethnicity and the presence of smoking-related diseases. Social support was an additional predictor of quitting success. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that some predictors related to smoking cessation attempts and successful smoking cessation were different. Sub-groups of patients (e.g. ethnic minorities, patients with smoking-related disorders, patients with children) might be motivated to initiate smoking cessation but might particularly benefit from additional support such as pharmacological interventions.