Objective To evaluate the different multi-detector computed tomography features of benign and malignant pulmonary focal ground-glass opacity (fGGO) nodules. Methods The demographic data(sex and age), nodule location, size, and multi-detector CT (MDCT) features (shape, margin, interface, internal characteristics, and adjacent structures) of 82 fGGO patients were retrospectively analyzed. Differences between benign and malignant fGGO were analyzed by using chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Binary logistic regression analysis was also performed to draw a regression equation. Results The 82 fGGO patients included 61 with malignant and 21 with benign nodules. No statistical differences were found between benign and malignant fGGO nodules in terms of demographic data, nodule location, or nodule size. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that lobulation, interface, and pleural indentation were the important features of malignant nodules, with the corresponding odds ratio (OR) being 8.122, 3.139, and 9.076, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the obtained equation were 93.4%, 66.7%, and 86.6%, respectively. Conclusion An fGGO nodule with lobulation, well-defined but coarse interface, and pleural indentation in its MDCT image, is more likely to be malignant.