The objective of this study was to investigate prospective fathers' preferences for caesarean section and associated factors. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire given in mid-pregnancy to 1105 fathers-to-be in northern Sweden. In total, 6.4% of fathers preferred a caesarean section. The factors associated with a preference for caesarean section were a wish to plan the date of the baby's birth [prevalence ratio (PR) 6.0], a previous negative birth experience (PR 8.6) and previous experience of a caesarean section (PR 5.7).